Physiological and metabolic responses to work in heat with graded hypohydration in tropical subjects

Summary

Studies were conducted on 25 healthy male volunteers aged 20–25 years drawn randomly from the tropical regions of India. The subjects initially underwent an 8 day heat acclimatization schedule with 2 hours moderate work in a climatic chamber at 45° C DB and 30% RH. These heat acclimatized subjects were then hypohydrated to varying levels of body weight deficits, i.e. 1.3±0.03, 2.3±0.04 and 3.3±0.04%, by a combination of water restriction and moderate exercise inside the hot chamber. After 2 hours rest in a thermoneutral room (25±1° C) the hypohydrated subjects were tested on a bicycle ergometer at a fixed submaximal work rate (40 W, 40 min) in a hot dry condition (45°C DB, 30% RH, 34° C WBGT). Significant increases in exercise heart rate and oral temperature were observed in hypohydrated subjects as compared to euhydration. Sweat rate increased with 1% and 2% hypohydration as compared to euhydration, but a significant decrease was observed with 3% hypohydration. Na⁺ & K⁺ concentrations in arm sweat increased with increase in the level of hypohydration. Oxygen consumption increased significantly only when hypohydration was about 2% or more. It appears that the increased physiological strain observed in tropical subjects working in heat with graded hypohydration is not solely due to reduced sweat rates.