No effects of a 4-week post-exercise sauna bathing on targeted gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function, and hsCRP in healthy men: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Plain-language summary

This study looked at whether adding sauna sessions after exercise affects gut bacteria, intestinal barrier function, and inflammation in young men. Fifteen untrained men were split into two groups: one did endurance cycling three times a week, and the other did the same cycling followed by a 30-minute sauna session. After four weeks, there were no differences between the groups in gut bacteria, stool pH, markers of intestinal barrier function, or hsCRP (a marker of inflammation). The study concluded that post-exercise sauna did not influence these measures in young men.

Key findings

• No differences in gut bacteria abundance between groups.
• No changes in stool pH, zonulin, or secretory immunoglobulin A.
• No effect on hsCRP levels, a marker of inflammation.
• Pre- and post-study levels of beneficial bacteria were below reference values in both groups.