Makinen Tiina Maria
Institute of Health Sciences, PO Box 5000, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Front Biosci (Schol Ed). 2010 Jun 1;2(3):1047-67. doi: 10.2741/s117.
Human adaptation to cold may occur through acclimatization or acclimation and includes genetic, physiologic, morphological or behavioural responses. It has been studied in indigenous populations, during polar or ski expeditions, sporting activities, military training, in urban people, or under controlled conditions involving exposures to cold air or water. Although divergent results exist between the studies, the main cold adaptation responses are either insulative (circulatory adjustments, increase of fat layer) or metabolic (shivering or nonshivering thermogenesis) and may be positive (enhanced) or negative (blunted). The pattern of cold adaptation is dependent on the type (air, water) and intensity (continuous, intermittent) of the cold exposure. In addition, several individual factors like age, sex, body composition, exercise, diet, fitness and health modify the responses to cold. Habituation of thermal sensations to cold develops first, followed by cardiovascular, metabolic and endocrinological responses. If the repeated cold stimulus is discontinued, adaptation will gradually disappear. The functional significance of physiological cold adaptation is unclear, and some of the responses can even be harmful and predispose to cold injuries. The article summarises recent research information concerning with the thermoregulatory responses related to repeated exposures to cold (air or water), and also discusses the determinants of cold adaptation, as well as its functional significance.
人类对寒冷的适应可能通过习服或驯化发生，包括遗传、生理、形态或行为反应。这一现象已在原住民群体、极地或滑雪探险、体育活动、军事训练、城市人群中，或在涉及暴露于冷空气或冷水的受控条件下进行了研究。尽管研究结果存在差异，但主要的冷适应反应要么是隔热性的（循环调节、脂肪层增加），要么是代谢性的（颤抖或非颤抖产热），可能是积极的（增强）或消极的（减弱）。冷适应模式取决于冷暴露的类型（空气、水）和强度（持续、间歇）。此外，年龄、性别、身体组成、运动、饮食、健康状况等几个个体因素会改变对寒冷的反应。对寒冷的热感觉习惯首先出现，随后是心血管、代谢和内分泌反应。如果停止重复的冷刺激，适应将逐渐消失。生理冷适应的功能意义尚不清楚，其中一些反应甚至可能有害，并易导致冷损伤。本文总结了近期有关反复暴露于寒冷（空气或水）的体温调节反应的研究信息，还讨论了冷适应的决定因素及其功能意义。
