Changes in Urinary Hydrogen Peroxide and 8-Hydroxy-2′-Deoxyguanosine Levels after a Forest Walk: A Pilot Study

Da-Hong Wang, Ai Yamada and Masamitsu Miyanaga
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Da-Hong Wang: Department of Biochemistry, Okayama University of Science, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture 700-0005, Japan
Ai Yamada: Department of Biochemistry, Okayama University of Science, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture 700-0005, Japan
Masamitsu Miyanaga: Department of Biochemistry, Okayama University of Science, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture 700-0005, Japan

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: Some studies have shown that exposure to forests has positive effects on human health, although the mechanisms underlying the health benefits of a forest environment have not been elucidated yet. The current study was aimed at examining how the levels of urinary hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and 8-hydroxy-2’deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) change after a forest or urban walk in healthy subjects. Twenty-eight volunteers (19 men and 9 women) participated in the study. The forest walks were carried out in a forest in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, and the urban walks (15 men and 7 women) were carried out in the downtown area of Okayama city, each for two hours. Spot urine samples were collected before the walk, the next day and one week after the forest or urban walk. Compared with pre-forest walk levels, urinary H 2 O 2 ( p < 0.1) and 8-OHdG ( p < 0.1) concentrations significantly decreased in the participants the day after the forest walk; furthermore, urinary 8-OHdG remained at a low level even at one week after the forest walk ( p < 0.05). However, there were no significant changes in the concentrations of these oxidative biomarkers after the urban walk. These findings suggest the possibility that exposure to forests may alleviate oxidative stress in the body.

Keywords: forest walk; urban walk; H 2 O 2; 8-OHdG; oxidative biomarker (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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