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Children in sauna: hormonal adjustments to intensive short thermal stress
E Jokinen1, I Välimäki, J Marniemi
1Cardiorespiratory Research Unit, University of Turku, Finland.
Insights
Finnish sauna use in children causes moderate hormonal changes, including increased leukocyte count and specific hormone levels. These changes suggest adequate thermoregulatory adjustment, similar to adults.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Environmental Physiology
- Thermoregulation
Background:
- The physiological effects of Finnish sauna bathing are well-documented in adults.
- Limited research exists on the hormonal responses to sauna in prepubertal children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hormonal and hematological responses to a Finnish sauna bath in prepubertal children.
- To compare these responses with those previously observed in adult populations.
Main Methods:
- Twenty prepubertal children (aged 5-10 years) participated in the study.
- Hormonal concentrations (growth hormone, prolactin, aldosterone, cortisol, antidiuretic hormone, atrial natriuretic peptide, thyrotropin), blood leukocyte count, plasma electrolytes (potassium, sodium), and blood glucose were measured before, during, and after sauna exposure.
- Plasma volume was also assessed.
Main Results:
- During the sauna bath, significant increases were observed in blood leukocyte count, plasma potassium, serum aldosterone, growth hormone, and prolactin.
- Plasma volume, plasma sodium, catecholamines, serum antidiuretic hormone, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), cortisol, and thyrotropin concentrations remained unchanged during the sauna session.
- One hour post-sauna, serum thyrotropin, atrial natriuretic peptide, and blood glucose levels decreased, while other measured hormones showed no significant changes.
Conclusions:
- Finnish sauna bathing induces moderate hormonal and hematological changes in prepubertal children.
- These findings suggest that children exhibit adequate hormonal thermoregulatory adjustments during sauna exposure, comparable to adults.
- The study highlights the body's ability to maintain homeothermia under heat stress in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
Hormonal response to Finnish sauna bath was investigated in 20 prepubertal children (age 5-10 years). Blood leukocyte count, plasma potassium, serum aldosterone, growth hormone and prolactin concentrations increased; plasma volume, plasma sodium, catecholamines, serum antidiuretic hormone, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), cortisol, and thyrotropin concentrations remained unchanged during sauna bath. One hour after sauna, serum thyrotropin, atrial natriuretic peptide and blood glucose concentrations decreased, whereas the rest of the hormones remained unchanged. Our results implicate that maintenance of homeothermia resulted in moderate hormonal changes in children during Finnish sauna bath which indicate similar adequate hormonal thermoregulatory adjustment as previously documented in adults.