The Utility of Forearm to Fingertip Skin Temperature Gradients During Measurements of Resting Energy Expenditure

Nutrition and Metabolic Insights
M J Soares, Kaveri Pathak

Abstract

The measurement of resting energy expenditure (REE) is important to both human physiology and nutrition. There are several pre-conditions for the proper measurement of REE, but a key criterion is that it takes place in the thermoneutral zone (TNZ). Deciding whether a person is in his or her TNZ is not an easy task, and a suggested way forward is the monitoring of forearm to fingertip skin temperature gradients (FFG). In this commentary, we highlight our recent findings that FFG varies between individuals even when measured at a temperature within TNZ. Interestingly, FFG showed a consistent direct relationship with adjusted REE, in both cross-sectional and longitudinal study designs. In addition, we provide new findings that FFG is sensitive to small ambient temperature variations within the TNZ, in comparison to visual analogue scale (VAS)-derived subjective measures of thermal comfort. While further research is needed in this area, our view is measurements of FFG should be included in REE protocols. This would inform investigators on how their participants are responding to the ambient room temperature and also allow appropriate statistical adjustments in REE for between-group comparisons.

References

Sep 1, 1990·Anesthesiology·E H Rubinstein, D I Sessler
Apr 20, 2002·European Journal of Clinical Nutrition·M S Westerterp-PlantengaP Schrauwen
Apr 21, 2009·Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental·Lewis LandsbergFred W Turek
Dec 29, 2011·Frontiers in Bioscience (Elite Edition)·Boris KingmaWouter van Marken Lichtenbelt
Jul 1, 2014·Temperature : Multidisciplinary Biomedical Journal·Boris Rm KingmaWouter D van Marken Lichtenbelt
Sep 7, 2018·European Journal of Clinical Nutrition·M J Soares, M J Müller

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