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Ochiai H, Inoue S, Masuda G, Amagasa S, Sugishita T, Ochiai T, Yanagisawa N, Nakata Y, Imai M. Randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of forest walking compared to urban walking in enhancing mucosal immunity. Sci Rep 2025; 15:3272. [PMID: 39863686 PMCID: PMC11762291 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87704-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Scientific research on forest therapy's preventive medical and mental health effects has advanced, but the need for clear evidence for practical applications remains. We conducted an unblinded randomized controlled trial involving healthy men aged 40-70 to compare the physiological and psychological effects of forest and urban walking. Eighty-four participants were randomly assigned to either the forest or urban group, with 78 completing 90-min walks and analysis. The primary outcome measured was the change in saliva-secreted immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels. Evaluating researchers were blinded to the groups, but participants and on-site staff were not. Here, we demonstrate a significant increase in saliva-secreted immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels in the forest group. Furthermore, forest walking resulted in improved mood, including a reduction in stress hormone levels. In conclusion, mindful forest walking has the potential to enhance immunity and promote health. Clinical trial registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network. Trail registration number: UMIN000045851. Approval date: 25/10/2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Ochiai
- Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Division of Hearing and Balance Disorder, National Institute of Sensory Organs, NHO Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, 152-8902, Japan.
| | - Shigeru Inoue
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, 160- 8402, Japan
| | - Gaku Masuda
- The Section of Global Health, Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, 162-8666, Japan
| | - Shiho Amagasa
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, 160- 8402, Japan
- Teikyo University Graduate School of Public Health, Tokyo, 173-8605, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Sugishita
- The Section of Global Health, Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, 162-8666, Japan
| | | | - Naoko Yanagisawa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, 162-8666, Japan
| | - Yoshio Nakata
- Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8574, Japan
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Maddock JE, Johnson SS. Spending Time in Nature: The Overlooked Health Behavior. Am J Health Promot 2024; 38:124-148. [PMID: 38126319 DOI: 10.1177/08901171231210806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jay E Maddock
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, Center for Health and Nature, College Station, TX, USA
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Browning MHEM, Hanley JR, Bailey CR, Beatley T, Gailey S, Hipp JA, Larson LR, James P, Jennings V, Jimenez MP, Kahn PH, Li D, Reuben A, Rigolon A, Sachs NA, Pearson AL, Minson CT. Quantifying Nature: Introducing NatureScore TM and NatureDose TM as Health Analysis and Promotion Tools. Am J Health Promot 2024; 38:126-134. [PMID: 38126317 PMCID: PMC10876217 DOI: 10.1177/08901171231210806b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew H. E. M. Browning
- Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
- NatureQuantTM, Inc., Eugene, OR, USA
| | | | | | - Timothy Beatley
- School of Architecture, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Samantha Gailey
- Department of Forestry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Space, Health and Community Lab, Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - J. Aaron Hipp
- Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Lincoln R. Larson
- Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Peter James
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Viniece Jennings
- School of the Environment, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - Peter H. Kahn
- Department of Psychology & School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dongying Li
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Aaron Reuben
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alessandro Rigolon
- Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Naomi A. Sachs
- Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Amber L. Pearson
- Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Christopher T. Minson
- NatureQuantTM, Inc., Eugene, OR, USA
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
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