The effects of nicotine on the metabolic and hormonal responses during acute cold exposure.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of nicotine on the metabolic and hormonal responses during acute cold exposure.


METHODS
Participants in this study included 6 men and 5 women between the ages of 19 and 25 years. Each subject performed 2 cold-air trials (CATs) consisting of a 30-minute baseline (BASE) period and a 120-minute exposure to 10 degree C air. One CAT was performed after a nicotine (NIC) dosing using a 21-mg transdermal patch, whereas the other CAT was performed after a placebo (PL) treatment. Blood samples for metabolic and hormonal measurements were obtained at the end of BASE and immediately after the cold exposure.


RESULTS
When examining the sexes separately, there was no difference in norepinephrine between PL and NIC (P = .066). There was also no difference in epinephrine between PL and NIC in either sex (P = .634). From BASE to 120 minutes of the CAT, there was a significant decrease in cortisol (P = .036), but this response was similar between the 2 treatments (P = .077). Glucose and glycerol concentrations were not different between the PL and NIC treatments. At BASE, nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration was lower during PL compared with NIC (P = .021); however, at 120 minutes of the CAT, NEFA was greater during PL compared with NIC (P = .035).


CONCLUSIONS
During 120 minutes of cold exposure, NIC resulted in alterations in the responses in NEFA, whereas the other blood measurements were not significantly different between the 2 groups.
Cheatham
Christopher C
CC
Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA. chris.cheatham@wmich.edu
Caine-Bish
Natalie
N
Blegen
Mark
M
Potkanowicz
Edward S
ES
Kamimori
Gary H
GH
Marcinkiewicz
Jennifer L
JL
Otterstetter
Ronald
R
Kalinski
Michael
M
Glickman
Ellen L
EL
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000097:blood; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006728:Hormones; D009538:Nicotine; D005990:Glycerol; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine