OBSERVATIONS ON ENERGY METABOLISM AND WATER BALANCE OF MEN SUBJECTED TO WARM AND COLD ENVIRONMENTS

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Abstract
Studies of energy metabolism and water balance were made on 2 subjects living in a controlled temp. room. In one experiment, a warm period (91 F, D. B., 82 F, W. B.) of 4 days was followed by 6 days of cold (69 F, D. B., 60 F, W. B.) and a terminal period of 4 days of heat. A 2d expt. consisted of 2 days of cold followed by 7 days of heat and a final brief period of cold. 4 other subjects were studied in a series of expts. consisting of exposures for a single day to either heat or cold. Energy metabolism was not affected greatly by these environmental extremes as judged by records of caloric intake, dietary composition, basal metabolism and resting, fasting respiratory quotients. Values for basal metabolism in 1 expt. were on the avg. slightly higher following exposure to cold for a few days than they were prior to exposure, but the differences are small. Diets consumed in the heat contained somewhat more fat and less carbohydrate or protein than diets consumed in the cold. The increased milk consumption, which was responsible for the additional dietary fat in the heat, did not seem to be the result from any specific "appetite" or "desire" for fat. Evidence for storage of water on changing from a cold to warm environment and loss of water under opposite circumstances was obtained from water balance studies and observations or body wt. The quantities of water involved ranged from a few hundred ccm. to more than a 1.

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