title: Variations in regional sweat composition in normal human males.
abstract: This project aimed to quantify the regional distribution of sweat composition over the skin surface and to determine whether sweat constituent concentrations collected from regional sites can estimate whole-body concentrations. Ten males cycled for 90 min in a 20 degrees C (50% relative humidity) environment at 45% peak aerobic power. Sweat was collected from eleven skin regions and the whole body, using a wash-down technique. Strong relationships were evident between the regional and whole-body sweat [Na+] and [Cl-], such that the thigh and calf exhibited greater correlation coefficients than area-weighted means derived from four and eight skin regions. Therefore, in this particular protocol the whole-body sweat [Na+] and [Cl-] could be predicted from regional sweat collections. Relationships between sweat constituents were evident for sweat [Na+] and pH, and sweat [K+] and [lactate] when data were pooled between skin regions and subjects. To our knowledge this is the first investigation to report a positive relationship between sweat [K+] and [lactate]. The exact mechanism responsible for the positive relationship between sweat [K+] and [lactate] is uncertain although it is speculated to occur at the secretory coil.
authors.affiliation: Scottish School of Sport Studies, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. mark.patterson@strath.ac.uk
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Galloway
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nimmo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002712:Chlorides / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry*; D013848:Thigh
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D019344:Lactic Acid; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium