We aimed to examine the biophysical and psychological effects of two different types of forests on women with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Seventy-one middle-aged Korean women participated in a half-day healing program at either Saneum Recreational Forest (a wild forest) or Seoul Forest (a tended forest) depending on their preference. The participants’ biophysical parameters and Profile of Mood States (POMS) were measured before and after the healing program. The two groups differed significantly in acute insulin responses, pulse rate, oxidative stress markers, and stress hormone level, suggesting better homeostasis in the wild forest. The POMS suggested that the mean vigor and confusion scores significantly decreased in the wild forest. Considering the significantly more favorable acute insulin reaction and levels of oxidative stress and the trend toward positive mood state in the wild forest, we recommend that middle-aged patients with MetS participate in healing programs in wild forests.
Abdul-GhaniM. A.DeFronzoR. A. (2008). Mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Current Diabetes Reports, 8, 173-178.
2.
AlbertiK. G.EckelR. H.GrundyS. M.ZimmetP. Z.CleemanJ. I.DonatoK. A.. . . SmithS. C.Jr. (2009). Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome: A joint interim statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association; World Heart Federation; International Atherosclerosis Society; and International Association for the Study of Obesity. Circulation, 120, 1640-1645. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192644
3.
BaldwinR. F.PowellR. B.KellertS. R. (2011). Habitat as architecture: Integrating conservation planning and human health. Ambio, 40, 322-327.
4.
BilbisL. S.MuhammadS. A.SaiduY.AdamuY. (2012). Effect of vitamins a, c, and e supplementation in the treatment of metabolic syndrome in albino rats. Biochemistry Research International, 2012, Article 678582. doi:10.1155/2012/678582
5.
BowlerD. E.Buyung-AliL. M.KnightT. M.PullinA. S. (2010). A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health, 10, Article 456. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-456
6.
Castro-GinerF.KunzliN.JacqueminB.ForsbergB.de CidR.SunyerJ.. . . KogevinasM. (2009). Traffic-related air pollution, oxidative stress genes, and asthma (ECHRS). Environmental Health Perspectives, 117, 1919-1924. doi:10.1289/ehp.0900589
7.
CrouterS. E.SchneiderP. L.KarabulutM.BassettD. R.Jr. (2003). Validity of 10 electronic pedometers for measuring steps, distance, and energy cost. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 35, 1455-1460. doi:10.1249/01.MSS.0000078932.61440.A2
8.
DemircanN.GurelA.ArmutcuF.UnalacakM.AktuncE.AtmacaH. (2008). The evaluation of serum cystatin C, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant status in patients with metabolic syndrome. Medical Science Monitor, 14(2), CR97-101.
9.
de OliveiraJ.HortM. A.MoreiraE. L.GlaserV.Ribeiro-do-ValleR. M.PredigerR. D.. . . de BemA. F. (2011). Positive correlation between elevated plasma cholesterol levels and cognitive impairments in LDL receptor knockout mice: Relevance of cortico-cerebral mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Neuroscience, 197, 99-106. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.09.009
10.
DijkstraK.PieterseM.PruynA. (2006). Physical environmental stimuli that turn healthcare facilities into healing environments through psychologically mediated effects: Systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 56, 166-181. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03990.x
11.
FrumkinH. (2003). Healthy places: Exploring the evidence. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 1451-1456.
12.
HaluzaD.SchonbauerR.CervinkaR. (2014). Green perspectives for public health: A narrative review on the physiological effects of experiencing outdoor nature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11, 5445-5461. doi:10.3390/ijerph110505445
13.
HartigT.BringslimarkT.Grindal PatilG. (2008). Restorative environmental design: What, when, where, and for whom? In KellertS. R.HeerwagenJ.MadorM. (Eds.), Biophilic design: The theory, science and practice of bringing buildings to life (p. 385). New York, NY: John Wiley.
14.
HassingH. C.TwicklerT. B.KasteleinJ. J.CramerM. J.CasseeF. R. (2009). Air pollution as noxious environmental factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. Netherlands Journal of Medicine, 67, 116-121.
15.
HazeS.SakaiK.GozuY. (2002). Effects of fragrance inhalation on sympathetic activity in normal adults. The Japanese Journal of Pharmacology, 90, 247-253.
16.
HsuP. F.ChuangS. Y.ChengH. M.TsaiS. T.ChouP.ChenC. H. (2008). Clinical significance of the metabolic syndrome in the absence of established hypertension and diabetes: A community-based study. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 79, 461-467. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2007.09.021
17.
IkeiH.SongC.KagawaT.MiyazakiY. (2014). Physiological and psychological effects of viewing forest landscapes in a seated position in one-day forest therapy experimental model. Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi/Japanese Journal of Hygiene, 69, 104-110.
18.
IrvineK. N.WarberS. L. (2002). Greening healthcare: Practicing as if the natural environment really mattered. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 8(5), 76-83.
19.
JoungD.KimG.ChoiY.LimH.ParkS.WooJ. M.ParkB. J. (2015). The prefrontal cortex activity and psychological effects of viewing forest landscapes in autumn season. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12, 7235-7243. doi:10.3390/ijerph120707235
20.
KaurJ. (2014). A comprehensive review on metabolic syndrome. Cardiology Research and Practice, 2014, Article 943162. doi:10.1155/2014/943162
21.
KawakamiK.KawamotoM.NomuraM.OtaniH.NabikaT.GondaT. (2004). Effects of phytoncides on blood pressure under restraint stress in SHRSP. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 31(Suppl. 2), S27-S28. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1681.2004.04102.x
22.
KellertS. R. (2006). Building for life: Designing and understanding the human-nature connection. Renewable Resources Journal, 24, 8-11, 23-24.
23.
KellertS. R. (2011). Dimensions, elements, and attributes of biophilic design. In KellertS. R.HeerwagenJ.MadorM. (Eds.), Biophilic design: The theory, science and practice of bringing buildings to life (pp. 3-19). New York, NY: John Wiley.
24.
KimJ. H.ParkH. Y.BaeS.LimY. H.HongY. C. (2013). Diethylhexyl phthalates is associated with insulin resistance via oxidative stress in the elderly: A panel study. PLoS ONE, 8(8), e71392. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0071392
25.
KimJ. K.FillmoreJ. J.SunshineM. J.AlbrechtB.HigashimoriT.KimD. W.. . .ShulmanG. I. (2004). PKC-theta knockout mice are protected from fat-induced insulin resistance. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 114, 823-827. doi:10.1172/JCI22230
26.
KimJ. T.LeeH. K. (2014). Metabolic syndrome and the environmental pollutants from mitochondrial perspectives. Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders, 15, 253-262. doi:10.1007/s11154-014-9297-5
27.
LastraG.ManriqueC. (2015). Perivascular adipose tissue, inflammation and insulin resistance: Link to vascular dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation, 22, 19-26. doi:10.1515/hmbci-2015-0010
28.
LeeJ.ParkB. J.TsunetsuguY.OhiraT.KagawaT.MiyazakiY. (2011). Effect of forest bathing on physiological and psychological responses in young Japanese male subjects. Public Health, 125, 93-100. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2010.09.005
29.
LiQ. (2010). Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15, 9-17. doi:10.1007/s12199-008-0068-3
30.
LiQ.KobayashiM.InagakiH.HirataY.LiY. J.HirataK.. . . KagawaT. (2010). A day trip to a forest park increases human natural killer activity and the expression of anti-cancer proteins in male subjects. Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents, 24, 157-165.
31.
LiQ.MorimotoK.KobayashiM.InagakiH.KatsumataM.HirataY.. . . MiyazakiY. (2008). A forest bathing trip increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins in female subjects. Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents, 22, 45-55.
32.
LiQ.MorimotoK.NakadaiA.InagakiH.KatsumataM.ShimizuT.. . . KawadaT. (2007). Forest bathing enhances human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 20(2 Suppl. 2), 3-8.
33.
LiQ.OtsukaT.KobayashiM.WakayamaY.InagakiH.KatsumataM.. . . KagawaT. (2011). Acute effects of walking in forest environments on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 111, 2845-2853. doi:10.1007/s00421-011-1918-z
34.
LimS.ChoY. M.ParkK. S.LeeH. K. (2010). Persistent organic pollutants, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1201, 166-176. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05622.x
35.
LinJ. J.LuK. W.MaY. S.TangN. Y.WuP. P.WuC. C.. . . ChungJ. G. (2014). Alpha-phellandrene, a natural active monoterpene, influences a murine WEHI-3 leukemia model in vivo by enhancing macrophague phagocytosis and natural killer cell activity. In Vivo, 28, 583-588.
36.
LinY. C.HsiaoT. J.ChenP. C. (2009). Persistent rotating shift-work exposure accelerates development of metabolic syndrome among middle-aged female employees: A five-year follow-up. Chronobiology International, 26, 740-755. doi:10.1080/07420520902929029
37.
MaoG. X.CaoY. B.LanX. G.HeZ. H.ChenZ. M.WangY. Z.. . . YanJ. (2012). Therapeutic effect of forest bathing on human hypertension in the elderly. Journal of Cardiology, 60, 495-502. doi:10.1016/j.jjcc.2012.08.003
38.
MartensD.GutscherH.BauerN. (2011). Walking in “wild” and “tended” urban forests: The impact on psychological well-being. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31, 36-44. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.11.001
39.
MorinoK.PetersenK. F.ShulmanG. I. (2006). Molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance in humans and their potential links with mitochondrial dysfunction. Diabetes, 55(Suppl. 2), S9-S15. doi:10.2337/diabetes
40.
NazarukJ.Borzym-KluczykM. (2015). The role of triterpenes in the management of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Phytochemistry Reviews, 14, 675-690. doi:10.1007/s11101-014-9369-x
41.
NgM.FlemingT.RobinsonM.ThomsonB.GraetzN.MargonoC.. . . GakidouE. (2014). Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet, 384, 766-781. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60460-8
42.
NicholsJ. H. (2011). Laboratory quality control based on risk management. Annals of Saudi Medicine, 31, 223-228. doi:10.4103/0256-4947.81526
43.
NicholsJ. H.ChristensonR. H.ClarkeW.GronowskiA.Hammett-StablerC. A.JacobsE., . . . National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. (2007). Executive summary. The National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory Medicine practice guideline: Evidence-based practice for point-of-care testing. Clinica Chimica Acta, 379, 14-30. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2006.12.025
44.
NowotnyK.JungT.HohnA.WeberD.GruneT. (2015). Advanced glycation end products and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Biomolecules, 5, 194-222. doi:10.3390/biom5010194
45.
OchiaiH.IkeiH.SongC.KobayashiM.TakamatsuA.MiuraT.. . . MiyazakiY. (2015). Physiological and psychological effects of forest therapy on middle-aged males with high-normal blood pressure. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12, 2532-2542. doi:10.3390/ijerph120302532
46.
OhtsukaY.YabunakaN.TakayamaS. (1998). Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing and walking) effectively decreases blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. International Journal of Biometeorology, 41, 125-127.
47.
PhillipsS. P. (2011). Including gender in public health research. Public Health Reports, 126(Suppl. 3), 16-21.
48.
PollockV.ChoD. W.RekerD.VolavkaJ. (1979). Profile of mood states: The factors and their physiological correlates. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 167, 612-614.
49.
PrasadS. N.Muralidhara. (2014). Mitigation of acrylamide-induced behavioral deficits, oxidative impairments and neurotoxicity by oral supplements of geraniol (a monoterpene) in a rat model. Chemico-Biological Interactions, 223, 27-37. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2014.08.016
50.
ReenaersC.PirardC.VankemsekeC.LatourP.BelaicheJ.LouisE. (2016). Long-term evolution and predictive factors of mild inflammatory bowel disease. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 51, 712-719. doi:10.3109/00365521.2015.1128965
51.
ShinW. S.YeounP. S.YooR. W.ShinC. S. (2010). Forest experience and psychological health benefits: The state of the art and future prospect in Korea. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15, 38-47. doi:10.1007/s12199-009-0114-9
52.
SunQ.HongX.WoldL. E. (2010). Cardiovascular effects of ambient particulate air pollution exposure. Circulation, 121, 2755-2765. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.893461
53.
SungJ.WooJ. M.KimW.LimS. K.ChungE. J. (2012). The effect of cognitive behavior therapy-based “forest therapy” program on blood pressure, salivary cortisol level, and quality of life in elderly hypertensive patients. Clinical and Experimental Hypertension, 34, 1-7. doi:10.3109/10641963.2011.618195
54.
SylviaL. G.BernsteinE. E.HubbardJ. L.KeatingL.AndersonE. J. (2014). Practical guide to measuring physical activity. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 114, 199-208. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2013.09.018
55.
TsunetsuguY.MiyazakiY.SatoH. (2006). Physiological effects in humans induced by the visual stimulation of room interiors with different wood quantities. Journal of Wood Science, 53, 11-16. doi:10.1007/s10086-006-0812-5
56.
TsunetsuguY.ParkB. J.IshiiH.HiranoH.KagawaT.MiyazakiY. (2007). Physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the atmosphere of the forest) in an old-growth broadleaf forest in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 26, 135-142.
57.
TsunetsuguY.ParkB. J.MiyazakiY. (2009). Trends in research related to “Shinrin-yoku” (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing) in Japan. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15, 27-37. doi:10.1007/s12199-009-0091-z
58.
ValeevaI.TitarenkoA. F.KhaziakhmetovaV. N.ZiganshinaL. E. (2015). Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties: Is there a link?International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine, 27(Suppl. 1), S67-S68. doi:10.3233/JRS-150693
59.
von LodeP. (2005). Point-of-care immunotesting: Approaching the analytical performance of central laboratory methods. Clinical Biochemistry, 38, 591-606. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2005.03.008
60.
YamaguchiM.DeguchiM.MiyazakiY. (2006). The effects of exercise in forest and urban environments on sympathetic nervous activity of normal young adults. Journal of International Medical Research, 34, 152-159.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
