title: The influence of a menthol and ethanol soaked garment on human temperature regulation and perception during exercise and rest in warm, humid conditions.
abstract: This study assessed whether donning a garment saturated with menthol and ethanol (M/E) can improve evaporative cooling and thermal perceptions versus water (W) or nothing (CON) during low intensity exercise and rest in warm, humid conditions often encountered in recreational/occupational settings. It was hypothesised there would be no difference in rectal (Tre) and skin (Tsk) temperature, infra-red thermal imagery of the chest/back, thermal comfort (TC) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) between M/E, W and CON, but participants would feel cooler in M/E versus W or CON.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six volunteers (mean [SD] 22 [4] years, 72.4 [7.4] kg and 173.6 [3.7] cm) completed (separate days) three, 60-min tests in 30°C, 70%rh, in a balanced order. After 15-min of seated rest participants donned a dry (CON) or 80mL soaked (M/E, W) long sleeve shirt appropriate to their intervention. They then undertook 30-min of low intensity stepping at a rate of 12steps/min on a 22.5cm box, followed by 15-min of seated rest. Measurements included heart rate (HR), Tre, Tsk (chest/back/forearm), thermal imaging (back/chest), thermal sensation (TS), TC and RPE. Data were reported every fifth minute as they changed from baseline and the area under the curves were compared by condition using one-way repeated measures ANOVA, with an alpha level of 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tre differed by condition, with the largest heat storage response observed in M/E (p<0.05). Skin temperature at the chest/back/forearm, and thermal imaging of the chest all differed by condition, with the greatest rate of heat loss observed in W and M/E respectively (p<0.01). Thermal sensation differed by condition, with the coolest sensations observed in M/E (p<0.001). No other differences were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both M/E and W enhanced evaporative cooling compared CON, but M/E causes cooler sensations and a heat storage response, both of which are likely mediated by menthol.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Sport and Movement Science, Salem State University, Salem, MA 01970, USA. Electronic address: jason.gillis@salemstate.edu.
authors.forename: D Jason
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gillis
authors.affiliation: Dept. Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Barwood
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Research and Development, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Portsmouth University, Portsmouth PO1 2ER, UK.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: House
authors.affiliation: Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Portsmouth University, Portsmouth PO1 2ER, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tipton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D003020:Clothing; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D015444:Exercise; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D008610:Menthol / Q000737:chemistry*; D010465:Perception; D012146:Rest; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013817:Thermography; D013697:Thermosensing; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D008610:Menthol; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Ethanol; Human; Menthol; Thermal comfort; Thermal sensation; Thermoregulation