Comparative Study of the Composition of Sweat from Eccrine and Apocrine Sweat Glands during Exercise and in Heat

Yi-Lang Chen, Wen-Hui Kuan and Chao-Lin Liu
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Yi-Lang Chen: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei 24301, Taiwan
Wen-Hui Kuan: Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei 24301, Taiwan
Chao-Lin Liu: Department of Chemical Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, New Taipei 24301, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-10

Abstract: This preliminarily study was made to examine the differences in sweat excretions from human eccrine and apocrine sweat glands in dynamic exercise and heat conditions. Sweat samples were collected from six young males while they were either running on a treadmill or sitting in a sauna cabinet. Sweat samples of at least 5 mL from the eccrine (upper − back) and apocrine (armpit) sweat glands were collected during a 20 − min running (or inactive overheating) period. The samples were then analyzed for urea, uric acid, and electrolyte (Na + , Cl − , and K + ) excretions. The results from a two − way repeated − measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the secretions of urea and K + were significantly higher during running than during inactive overheating for both glands, as were Na + secretions for the apocrine glands (all P < 0.05). Under the same sweating conditions, urea and K + excretions from the apocrine glands were also higher than those from the eccrine glands (all P < 0.05). Significant differences were observed between the Na + secretions of the apocrine and eccrine glands under the running condition. The effects of various sweating methods and sweat glands on Cl − secretions were nonsignificant, and little uric acid was excreted. A higher urea excretion level during running rather than in hot conditions could be attributed to an elevated metabolic rate.

Keywords: analysis of variance (ANOVA); apocrine sweat gland; dynamic exercise; eccrine sweat gland; heat environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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