The influence of a menthol and ethanol soaked garment on human temperature regulation and perception during exercise and rest in warm, humid conditions

Gillis, D. Jason; Barwood, Martin J.; Newton, PS; House, James R.; Tipton, Michael J.

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.04.009

Cited by 21 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…1c and d), even if athletes were performing better, which was also reported in other works [14,16,26,29,30]. As for the heat-related perception measures, participants felt the same lower TS at the end of the run as reported in other works [13,16,26,27,31], whereas TC was also decreased [32] or maintained/augmented [13,16,26,27] (▶table 1). It is confirmed here by a better acceptability of the heat both in cold and menthol conditions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…RPE was not modified by menthol, meaning that subjects performed all the tests with the same maximal perceived intensity, although run duration was better for some conditions. This therefore suggests an existing performance-enhancing effect in these conditions [31]. The underlying physiological mechanisms are still to be fully understood, but the type of activity (running, cycling) or the environmental conditions (dry or humid heat) might play a role.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Skin Application of 4% Menthol Enhances Running Performance in Hot and Humid Climate

2020

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Aerobic performance is negatively impacted by tropical climate due to impairment of thermoregulatory mechanisms. We tested the hypothesis that a torso application of a 4% menthol solution would have the same effect on a best performance 10-km run as an external use of cold water. Thirteen trained male athletes completed four outdoor 10-km runs (T=29.0±1.3°C, relative humidity 59.0±13.6%) wearing a tee-shirt soaked every 2-km either in a cold (~6°C) or warm/ambient (~28°C) solution, consisting in water or in a 4% menthol solution, (CTL, MENT-Amb, CLD and MENT-CLD). Run performances were improved from 4.8 to 6.1% in CLD (51.4±5.5 min), MENT-Amb (52.2±5.9 min) and MENT-CLD (51.4±5.1 min) conditions (vs. CTL, 55.4±8.4 min, P<0.05), without differences between these three conditions, whereas heart rate (177±13bpm), body temperature (38.7±0.6°C) and drink ingestion (356±170 g) were not modified. Thermal sensation after running was lower in MENT-CLD (vs. CTL, P<0.01) and thermal acceptability was higher in CLD and MENT-Amb (vs. CTL, P<0.05), but thermal comfort, feeling scale and rate of perceived exertion remained unchanged. The use of menthol on skin enhances aerobic performance in a tropical climate, and no differences in performance were observed between menthol and traditional percooling strategies. However, combining both menthol and traditional percooling brought no further improvements.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Skin Application of 4% Menthol Enhances Running Performance in Hot and Humid Climate

2020

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“…This consensus statement provides guidance on the safe and effective use of menthol for athletes, practitioners, and researchers. application [13,31,44,72], and sources of possible contamination [20] all pertinent considerations for athletes, practitioners, and support staff. Despite the accumulating body of evidence describing the experimental effects of menthol, there is little agreement on how best to safely administer it as an ergogenic aid.…”

Section: Key Pointsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Menthol as an Ergogenic Aid for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games: An Expert-Led Consensus Statement Using the Modified Delphi Method

et al. 2020

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Introduction Menthol topical application and mouth rinsing are ergogenic in hot environments, improving performance and perception, with differing effects on body temperature regulation. Consequently, athletes and federations are beginning to explore the possible benefits to elite sport performance for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, which will take place in hot (~ 31 °C), humid (70% RH) conditions. There is no clear consensus on safe and effective menthol use for athletes, practitioners, or researchers. The present study addressed this shortfall by producing expert-led consensus recommendations. Method Fourteen contributors were recruited following ethical approval. A three-step modified Delphi method was used for voting on 96 statements generated following literature consultation; 192 statements total (96/96 topical application/mouth rinsing). Round 1 contributors voted to “agree” or “disagree” with statements; 80% agreement was required to accept statements. In round 2, contributors voted to “support” or “change” their round 1 unaccepted statements, with knowledge of the extant voting from round 1. Round 3 contributors met to discuss voting against key remaining statements. Results Forty-seven statements reached consensus in round 1 (30/17 topical application/rinsing); 14 proved redundant. Six statements reached consensus in round 2 (2/4 topical application/rinsing); 116 statements proved redundant. Nine further statements were agreed in round 3 (6/3 topical application/rinsing) with caveats. Discussion Consensus was reached on 62 statements in total (38/24 topical application/rinsing), enabling the development of guidance on safe menthol administration, with a view to enhancing performance and perception in the heat without impairing body temperature regulation.

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“…body temperatures) during exercise. Recently however, the use of the cooling compound menthol (which acts on cutaneous thermoreceptors to induce perceptions of coolness) has allowed the separation of thermal perceptions and thermal state within research, although the core temperature can be altered by menthol in some instances where it is applied to a large body surface area [71,72]. Pre-cooling (i.e.…”

Section: Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Endurance Performance is Influenced by Perceptions of Pain and Temperature: Theory, Applications and Safety Considerations

et al. 2017

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Models of endurance performance now recognise input from the brain, including an athlete's ability to cope with various non-pleasurable perceptions during exercise, such as pain and temperature. Exercise training can reduce perceptions of both pain and temperature over time, partly explaining why athletes generally have a higher pain tolerance, despite a similar pain threshold, compared with active controls. Several strategies with varying efficacy may ameliorate the perceptions of pain (e.g. acetaminophen, transcranial direct current stimulation and transcutaneous electrical stimulation) and temperature (e.g. menthol beverages, topical menthol products and other cooling strategies, especially those targeting the head) during exercise to improve athletic performance. This review describes both the theory and practical applications of these interventions in the endurance sport setting, as well as the potentially harmful health consequences of their use.

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The influence of a menthol and ethanol soaked garment on human temperature regulation and perception during exercise and rest in warm, humid conditions

Abstract: Both M/E and W enhanced evaporative cooling compared CON, but M/E causes cooler sensations and a heat storage response, both of which are likely mediated by menthol.

Cited by 21 publications

References 32 publications

Skin Application of 4% Menthol Enhances Running Performance in Hot and Humid Climate

Skin Application of 4% Menthol Enhances Running Performance in Hot and Humid Climate

Menthol as an Ergogenic Aid for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games: An Expert-Led Consensus Statement Using the Modified Delphi Method

Endurance Performance is Influenced by Perceptions of Pain and Temperature: Theory, Applications and Safety Considerations

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