Ethnic and anthropometric factors in finger cooling. Japanese and Europeans of Hawaii

Using moving 0°C air, a finger and moderate total body cooling exposure (70 min) was completed on 33 Japanese and 24 European young men. Interference by differential acclimatization was eliminated by use of subjects raised and now living in the tropics. Europeans showed a 16.7% frequency of inadequate finger temperature response, compared with only 3.0% in the Oriental sample. The difference was not significant statistically. In both groups, cooled finger temperature showed a modest but clear positive correlation to relatively long trunked body build, and to finger temperature before cooling (during control period). The Japanese showed additional positive correlations between finger warmth and both body skinfolds and head size. Although the Europeans had higher cold induced vasodilation (CIVD) amplitudes, the overall pattern of vasoactivity, comparing the groups, was similar. The Japanese sample was of sufficient size to run an internal analysis of CIVD. Those with two or more CIVD's clearly enjoyed higher finger temperatures; they likewise showed higher core temperature and pulse rate. No CIVD to anthropometric associations were found with the possible exception of abdominal skinfold.