Effect of mild cold on metabolic and insulative adaptation in man

(1) Short-term effect of mild decrease in environmental temperature (16 deg reesC versus 22 degreesC) on 24h energy expenditure and body temperature di stribution were measured in nine men in a respiration chamber. (2) At 16 de greesC, body temperature (both skin and core) decreased and temperature gra dients within the body increased, together with an increase in energy expen diture. (3) in response to mild cold, the change in body temperature gradie nts was negatively related to changes in energy expenditure. (4) The result s show that inter-individual differences exist with respect to the relative contribution of metabolic and insulative adaptations to mild cold. (C) 200 1 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.