NCT07158047

Brief Summary

This is a clinical trial to determine if 30 sessions of far infrared sauna bathing can improve cardiovascular and metabolic function in adults with obesity.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
20

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
3mo left

Started Mar 2022

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress95%
Mar 2022Jul 2026

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 7, 2022

Completed
3.5 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 27, 2025

Completed
9 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 5, 2025

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 30, 2026

Expected
1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 31, 2026

Last Updated

March 4, 2026

Status Verified

March 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

4.3 years

First QC Date

August 27, 2025

Last Update Submit

March 2, 2026

Conditions

Obesity (Disorder)

Keywords

heat therapyinsulin resistancearterial stiffnessblood pressureobesitysaunavascular healthcardiovascularmetabolic function

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Blood pressure change

    Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressures after 30 sessions of Intervention

    10 weeks

  • Blood glucose

    Change in plasma glucose levels after Intervention

    10 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Arterial stiffness reduction

    10 weeks

  • Serum insulin

    10 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Heat therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Group will undergo 30 sessions of heat therapy over approximately 10 weeks. Sessions will require participants to sit in a far infrared sauna for up to 45 min for 3 to 4 times per week.

Other: Heat therapy

Time control group

NO INTERVENTION

No participation in sauna bathing. Maintain lifestyle habits for approximately 10 weeks.

Interventions

Heat therapyOTHER

30 sessions of far infrared sauna bathing (45-60C) for up to 45 min

Also known as: sauna bathing
Heat therapy

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 59 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • BMI between 30-45 kg/m2

You may not qualify if:

  • Diagnosed diabetes
  • Greater than stage 2 hypertension
  • Coagulopathies
  • Allergies to lidocaine
  • Medications affecting blood pressure
  • Blood clotting, and blood sugars
  • Smoker
  • Pregnant
  • Desiring to become pregnant in the near future
  • Breastfeeding
  • BMI less than 30
  • BMI greater than 45 kg/m2
  • Exercising \> 120 min/week
  • Taking medications (other than hormone contraceptives)
  • Not willing to stop taking medications (other than hormone contraceptives) for 24 hours before testing days

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Oregon

Eugene, Oregon, 97401, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (9)

  • Masuda A, Koga Y, Hattanmaru M, Minagoe S, Tei C. The effects of repeated thermal therapy for patients with chronic pain. Psychother Psychosom. 2005;74(5):288-94. doi: 10.1159/000086319.

    PMID: 16088266BACKGROUND

  • Kihara T, Biro S, Imamura M, Yoshifuku S, Takasaki K, Ikeda Y, Otuji Y, Minagoe S, Toyama Y, Tei C. Repeated sauna treatment improves vascular endothelial and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 Mar 6;39(5):754-9. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(01)01824-1.

    PMID: 11869837BACKGROUND

  • Kihara T, Biro S, Ikeda Y, Fukudome T, Shinsato T, Masuda A, Miyata M, Hamasaki S, Otsuji Y, Minagoe S, Akiba S, Tei C. Effects of repeated sauna treatment on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with chronic heart failure. Circ J. 2004 Dec;68(12):1146-51. doi: 10.1253/circj.68.1146.

    PMID: 15564698BACKGROUND

  • Fuchs CJ, Betz MW, Petrick HL, Weber J, Senden JM, Hendriks FK, Bels JLM, van Loon LJC, Snijders T. Repeated passive heat treatment increases muscle tissue capillarization, but does not affect postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy older adults. J Physiol. 2025 Jan;603(1):167-186. doi: 10.1113/JP286986. Epub 2024 Oct 7.

    PMID: 39373667BACKGROUND

  • Ely BR, Francisco MA, Halliwill JR, Bryan SD, Comrada LN, Larson EA, Brunt VE, Minson CT. Heat therapy reduces sympathetic activity and improves cardiovascular risk profile in women who are obese with polycystic ovary syndrome. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2019 Nov 1;317(5):R630-R640. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00078.2019. Epub 2019 Sep 4.

    PMID: 31483156BACKGROUND

  • Ely BR, Clayton ZS, McCurdy CE, Pfeiffer J, Needham KW, Comrada LN, Minson CT. Heat therapy improves glucose tolerance and adipose tissue insulin signaling in polycystic ovary syndrome. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Jul 1;317(1):E172-E182. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00549.2018. Epub 2019 May 28.

    PMID: 31136202BACKGROUND

  • Brunt VE, Jeckell AT, Ely BR, Howard MJ, Thijssen DH, Minson CT. Acute hot water immersion is protective against impaired vascular function following forearm ischemia-reperfusion in young healthy humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2016 Dec 1;311(6):R1060-R1067. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00301.2016. Epub 2016 Oct 5.

    PMID: 27707723BACKGROUND

  • Brunt VE, Eymann TM, Francisco MA, Howard MJ, Minson CT. Passive heat therapy improves cutaneous microvascular function in sedentary humans via improved nitric oxide-dependent dilation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2016 Sep 1;121(3):716-23. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00424.2016. Epub 2016 Jul 14.

    PMID: 27418688BACKGROUND

  • Behzadi P, Ravanelli N, Gravel H, Barry H, Debray A, Chaseling GK, Jacquemet V, Neagoe PE, Nigam A, Carpentier AC, Sirois MG, Gagnon D. Acute effect of passive heat exposure on markers of cardiometabolic function in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2022 May 1;132(5):1154-1166. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00800.2021. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

    PMID: 35323077BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

ObesityHyperthermiaInsulin Resistance

Interventions

Diathermy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

OverweightOvernutritionNutrition DisordersNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesBody WeightSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsBody Temperature ChangesHeat Stress DisordersWounds and InjuriesHyperinsulinismGlucose Metabolism DisordersMetabolic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hyperthermia, InducedTherapeutics

Study Officials

  • Christopher T Minson, PhD

    University of Oregon

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Christopher T Minson, PhD

CONTACT

541-346-7583minson@uoregon.edu

John R Halliwill, PhD

CONTACT

541-346-7591halliwil@uoregon.edu

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
BASIC SCIENCE
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Time control versus heat therapy group
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 27, 2025

First Posted

September 5, 2025

Study Start

March 7, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2026

Last Updated

March 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

US(1)