| Do et al., Tacoma, Washington, USA, previously reported that men and women living for 10 months in Antarctica show a doubling of the plasma T3 production rate and of total volume of T3 distribution, while their energy requirement is increased by 40%. The authors termed this condition as the Polar Syndrome. In this report they show the results of measurement of skeletal muscle efficiency and basal metabolic rate (BMR) under these circumstances. They found an increase of BMR of about 11% while work efficiency of skeletal muscle was decreased by about 16%. These abnormalities are, although of lower magnitude, similar as in patients with hyperthyroid Graves' disease. (Comment: Looking at these data, it seems that this syndrome reflects a maladaptation syndrome and the question is if the increase in T3 production rate plays a central role in this phenomenon or is a secondary event following the increased energy requirements under polar conditions.) |
