Sauna Detoxification Study: Pilot Feasibility

NCT ID: NCT01576822

Last Updated: 2012-10-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

10 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2011-11-30

Study Completion Date

2012-04-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The goal of this study is to assess the feasibility of the approach, conduct a dose-finding investigation, and obtain pilot data on hyperthermia via sauna to apply in follow-up trials in the assessment of human chemical body burden reduction, for general wellness, detoxification, and pain reduction.

The investigators wish to determine if a hyperthermia-based detoxification protocol is feasible to conduct: including assessment of recruitment, enrollment, retention, protocol adherence, adverse events, and changes in serum polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

According to our nationwide survey of Naturopathic Physicians regarding use of detoxification, approximately 80 percent of NDs (Naturopathic Doctors) use some type of detoxification interventions in clinical practice on a regular basis. Of the interventions used, 66% of respondents reported using sauna therapy. Of the conditions treated, over 80 percent of practitioners use sauna-based detoxification for "general cleansing/preventive medicine." This protocol will utilize a sauna as the primary method of detoxification.

Previous studies on hyperthermia-based protocols for detoxification have been methodologically challenged and are not readily reproducible. Furthermore, there are no studies in the literature that identify how long of a protocol is tolerated, is feasible in the general population, or how long is needed to observe PCB (or other pollutant reduction). Therefore, we will employ a "high-dose" protocol and a "low-dose" protocol, based on ranges reported in the literature, in order to evaluate dose-finding outcomes to hyperthermia, including tolerability, retention, and participant-reported outcomes.

High Dose Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 2 hours of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 5 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (15 total sessions, 30 hours of sauna). Participants will be able to schedule visits on any of 7 days per week. Maximum flexibility in hours of operation as well as flexibility in which days are attended will be utilized to increase likelihood of retention. A participant may attend visits for 15 consecutive days, should they wish.

Low Dose Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 1 hour of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 3 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (9 total sessions, 9 hours of sauna). Participants will be able to schedule visits on any of 7 days per week. Maximum flexibility in hours of operation as well as flexibility in which days are attended will be utilized to increase likelihood of retention. Participants will be able to attend 9 consecutive sessions, should they wish.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Hyperthermia

Keywords

Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.

Detoxification Sauna

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Low Dose

Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 1 hour of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 3 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (9 total sessions, 9 hours of sauna). Participants will be able to schedule visits on any of 7 days per week. Maximum flexibility in hours of operation as well as flexibility in which days are attended will be utilized to increase likelihood of retention. Participants will be able to attend 9 consecutive sessions, should they wish.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

This protocol will utilize a sauna as the primary method of detoxification.

Intervention Type OTHER

This study is a randomized, 2-arm, dose-finding safety and feasibility trial. After screening, informed consent and randomization, participants will complete a medically-monitored sauna-based detoxification program.

High Dose Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 2 hours of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 5 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (15 total sessions, 30 hours of sauna).

Low Dose Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 1 hour of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 3 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (9 total sessions, 9 hours of sauna).

High Dose

Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 2 hours of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 5 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (15 total sessions, 30 hours of sauna). Participants will be able to schedule visits on any of 7 days per week. Maximum flexibility in hours of operation as well as flexibility in which days are attended will be utilized to increase likelihood of retention. A participant may attend visits for 15 consecutive days, should they wish.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

This protocol will utilize a sauna as the primary method of detoxification.

Intervention Type OTHER

This study is a randomized, 2-arm, dose-finding safety and feasibility trial. After screening, informed consent and randomization, participants will complete a medically-monitored sauna-based detoxification program.

High Dose Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 2 hours of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 5 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (15 total sessions, 30 hours of sauna).

Low Dose Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 1 hour of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 3 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (9 total sessions, 9 hours of sauna).

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

This protocol will utilize a sauna as the primary method of detoxification.

This study is a randomized, 2-arm, dose-finding safety and feasibility trial. After screening, informed consent and randomization, participants will complete a medically-monitored sauna-based detoxification program.

High Dose Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 2 hours of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 5 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (15 total sessions, 30 hours of sauna).

Low Dose Participants randomized to this group will undergo a protocol consisting of 1 hour of sauna therapy per day, for a minimum of 3 days per week, completed in 3 weeks or less (21 days). (9 total sessions, 9 hours of sauna).

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. 21-35 years.
2. Body mass index (BMI) 19 to 30 kg/m2 at the screening evaluation.
3. Ability to schedule and attend daily visits for the duration of the study.
4. If female, willingness to use barrier contraception (e.g., cervical cap, diaphragm, condom, metal IUD (non- hormone)) throughout the study and take a pregnancy test at screening, and weekly during the study.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pregnant, or trying to become pregnant in the three months following screening.
2. Current use of any prescribed pharmaceutical medications (including oral contraceptive pills, without additional barrier contraception).
3. Participants who have a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2, elevated fasting blood sugar, bradycardia, hyper or hypotension or evidence of a medical condition.
4. A diagnosis of any chronic medical condition (e.g., multiple sclerosis, diabetes, or endocrine disorders, liver disease, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, or cancer, or with a reported history of substance abuse or mental illness within the past 5 years, or a mental health disorder in the past 6 months.
5. Clinical chemistry lab values outside of reference lab normal ranges (except in cases of ranges within 10% ULN and isolated measurements in the absence of chronic disease).
6. Recent infection (\<14 days), open sores, or communicable skin conditions.
7. Current use of any tobacco products or illicit drugs.
8. Any condition that in the opinion of the investigators or IRB would preclude the safe completion of the study (e.g., clinical or mental health concerns that arise from the screening questionnaire or physical exam).
Minimum Eligible Age

21 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

35 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Bastyr University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Jason Allen, N.D., MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Bastyr University

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Bastyr University Clinical Research Center

Kenmore, Washington, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

4R00AT004711-03

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

H35B11

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id