Effect of Aspirin Ingestion and Fitness Level on Thermal Sensation Following Acute Cold Exposure

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The relation between cold perception (i.e., an individual's ability to sense and scale thermal discomfort) following acute cold exposure (ACE) is an area that has considerable practical application to those individuals who may work in cold environments or even those that are recreationally placed in a wilderness setting. Furthermore, it is well known that fitness levels may play a role in thermoregulation and thereby thermal sensation. PURPOSE: Therefore, the goal of the present investigation was to determine if the ingestion of a placebo (PL) vs. a body weight dose of aspirin (1.16 mg.kg-1 body weight) in low fit (LF: VO2 = 36.6 ± 0.9 ml. kg. −1min-1) and high fit (HF: VO2 = 52.0 ± 1.2 ml. kg. −1min-1) males would alter the individual's perception of cold in the recovery phase (i.e., re-warming) following acute cold exposure (ACE-REC). METHODS: Ten males (25.6 ± 1.6 y) underwent pre-experimental testing to determine VO2max and body composition. Subjects underwent 2 trials in which they were required to ingest for one week prior to both trials: a capsule which was filled with cellulose (PL) or, a body weight dose of aspirin (ASA-BW). Each trial consisted of 120 min of exposure to 10oC air (ACE) and 120 min of recovery in 25oC air (ACE-REC). The Gagge Thermal Sensation Scale (1967) vs. the Modified Thermal Sensation Scale (1994) was employed to discern thermal perception at rest during ACE-REC. RESULTS: ANOVA revealed that during ACE-REC the Gagge Scale and the Modified Gagge Scale both demonstrated a main effect for time (p<0.001). However, the Gagge Scale demonstrated a trend for treatment (p=0.056), and a treatment × fitness (LF vs. HF) interaction (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: From these data it appears that there was a differential response in thermal perception during ACE-REC with respect to treatment × fitness. In addition a trend was demonstrated with respect to treatment via the Gagge Thermal Sensation Scale.