Effect of mild cold on metabolic and insulative adaptation in man

(1) short-term effect of mild decrease in environmental temperature (16°c versus 22°c) on 24 h energy expenditure and body temperature distribution were measured in nine men in a respiration chamber. (2) at 16°c, body temperature (both skin and core) decreased and temperature gradients within the body increased, together with an increase in energy expenditure. (3) in response to mild cold, the change in body temperature gradients was negatively related to changes in energy expenditure. (4) the results show that inter-individual differences exist with respect to the relative contribution of metabolic and insulative adaptations to mild cold.