Passive heat loading links lipolysis and regulation of fibroblast growth factor-21 in humans

There is relativley little information on the serum biomarkers of heat stress. Therefore, the goal of this study was to verify the effect of passive heat loading (PHL) on the expression of fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) and free fatty acids (FFAs). Four PHL protocols based on intensity (39 °C vs. 43 °C, leg immersion, 30 min) and type (leg vs. half immersion, 42 °C, 30 min) were used. Each protocol was applied on a 2 day cycle to 12 healthy adult males (age, 22.4 ± 2.9 years; height, 174.1 ± 4.6 cm; weight, 71.3 ± 5.6 kg; body mass index, 23.1 ± 3.0). The subjects were categorized into two groups according to the study design (randomized, with a parallel trial). Body temperature, FGF21 and FFAs were determined prior to PH L, immediately and 60 min after PHL. Body temperature was significant higher (43 °C) than the 39 °C measured under identical PHL type (leg immersion). PHL was effective for the expression of FGF21 and for lipolysis. The quantitative levels of FGF21 and FFA increased with increasing temperature (39 °C<42 °C<43 °C). A significant difference in the quantitative levels of FGF21 and FFAs was also evident based on the type of PHL (leg