Abstract
Within the framework of earlier publications, we have consistently dedicated our investigations to eliciting the effects of both seasonal vitamin D deficiency and submarine-induced hypercapnia on serum parameters for acid–base balance and bone metabolism in submariners over a 2-month winter (WP) or summer (SP) patrols. The latest findings reported herein, contribute further evidence with regard to overall physiological regulations in the same submariner populations that underwent past scrutiny. Hence, urine and blood samples were collected in WP and SP submariners at control prepatrol time as well as on submarine patrol days 20, 41, and 58. Several urine and serum metabolic markers were quantified, namely, deoxypyridinoline (DPD), lactate, albumin, creatinine, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and ionized sodium (Na+) or potassium (K+), with a view to assessing bone, muscle, liver, or kidney metabolisms. We evidenced bone metabolism alteration (urine DPD, calcium, and phosphorus) previously recorded in submarine crewmembers under prolonged patrols. We also highlighted transitory modifications in liver metabolism (serum albumin) occurring within the first 20 days of submersion. We further evidenced changes in submariners’ renal physiology (serum creatinine) throughout the entire patrol time span. Measurements of ionic homeostasis (serum Na+ and K+) displayed potential seasonal impact over active ionic pumps in submariners. Finally, there is some evidence that submersion provides beneficial conditions prone to fend off seasonal lactic acidosis (serum lactate) detected in WP submariners.
Highlights
Submariners subjected to prolonged patrols usually encounter extreme environmental conditions prone to alter basic physiological and metabolic pathways in humans
In order to complete our previously published data (Holy et al 2012), the present investigation focused on the three urine markers (DPD, Ca, and Pi) both strongly involved in bone metabolism (Fig. 1)
Regardless of the experimental time, urine Pi levels were consistently higher in Winter patrol (WP) submariners compared with their Summer patrol (SP) counterparts
Summary
Submariners subjected to prolonged patrols usually encounter extreme environmental conditions prone to alter basic physiological and metabolic pathways in humans. Such extreme challenging conditions involve long-term confinement, limited physical activity, modified dietary lifestyle, elevated CO2 atmosphere, and lack of sunlight exposure (Davies and Morris 1979). Among these distinctive features, hypercapnia ranks first as it is induced by the continuous elevated CO2 level (20–30 times higher than the 0.03% CO2 concentration in the atmospheric air).
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