The Role of Hydration on Peripheral Response to Cold

Ten men were dehydrated by restriction of fluid intake and by exercise over 2½ days (weight loss = 4.6%). Body weight returned to −1.6% within 10 hr after rehydration, suggesting the weight loss was fluid loss. Measures of blood and urine constituents also were indicative of dehydration. These subjects experienced a cold test prior to and after dehydration and after rehydration. The fingers, but not the backs of the hands, of the dehydration group were significantly colder (p < 0.5) following dehydration. A group of 10 control subjects tested under identical conditions, but hydrated at all times, showed no changes.