(P32-014-23) Acute Effects of Aerobic Activity Compared to Sauna Exposure on Plasma Uric Acid Concentration and Heat Shock Protein 60

Objectives: Aerobic exercise provides multiple health benefits; some are modulated by increased body temperature, vasodilation, sweating, and stress. Previous studies have shown that exercise increases plasma uric acid (UA) and heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) concentrations. In this study, we sought to investigate if a 30-minute session of sauna-induced heat therapy has similar effects as exercising aerobically. We hypothesize that UA and HSP60 will increase during exercise and sauna heat therapy.

Methods: Plasma from fourteen participants (age 23 ± 2 y, ht 1.74 ± 0.08 m, wt 80.9 ± 19.7 kg, BMI 26.5 ± 5.5 kg/m²) was collected and tested. Each participant completed a randomized crossover, counterbalanced control study. This trial consisted of a 20-minute resting period lying supine, that was followed by 30 minutes of either sauna heat therapy (SAU: ~132°F/~56°C), cycling exercise (EXER: ~40-50% HRR), or upright sitting, of which served as the control group (CON: control). Plasma samples were taken both pre- and post-completion of each activity. UA was measured using enzymatic spectrophotometry, Alfa Wasserman Ace Axcel®, and HSP60 through Luminex® MAGPIX® multiplex assays.

Results: UA circulating levels increased significantly in the EXER group (pre 3.52 ± 0.16 vs post 3.67 ± 0.15 mg/dL; P = 0.03). No mean differences were observed in pre vs post UA levels on SAU (pre 3.70 ± 0.17 vs post 3.73 ± 0.15 mg/dL; P = 0.85), or CON (pre 3.90 ± 0.18 vs post 3.74 ± 0.14 mg/dL; P = 0.11). HSP60 showed no difference in means in any group pre vs. post-treatment.

Conclusions: Our results show that cycling for 30 minutes (40-50% HRR) is enough to increase UA concentration; however, this effect was not observed in the sauna heat therapy. The lack of change in HSP60 showed that a longer period of exercise and heat exposure or higher intensity/temperature might be necessary for heat therapy to mimic exercise health benefits.

Funding Sources: Weber State University’s Office of Undergraduate Research Grant