The purpose of this research study is to better understand ways that women and men differ physiologically, cognitively, physically, and cellularly to better prescribe helpful interventions that will prevent injury and risk of conditions like exertional heat illnesses or heatstroke. The main questions this project aims to answer are: 1. What is the relative stress contributing to performance differences between women and men during intense exercise in extremely hot and humid environments in response to exertional heat stress? 2. What is the relative contribution of responses in adipose tissue, cardiovascular tissue, gut microbiota, and musculoskeletal tissue on heat tolerance in women (vs. men) to exertional heat stress? 3. What is the impact of adding an antioxidant juice consumption regime and will it assist in enhancing performance during an acute bout of exercise-heat stress before and after heat acclimation? Subjects enrolled and approved for participation will perform: 1. a heat acclimation protocol which includes the completion of 5 days of prescribed exercise-heat exposure 2. two separate acute exercise-heat exposures for the assessment of thermotolerance and the investigation of potential enhancements in thermoregulatory performance that may occur after the completion of a 5-day heat acclimation protocol 3. a subset of subjects enrolled and approved for participation who opt in to antioxidant berry supplement consumption will either consume the active or placebo product throughout their participation.
Age range
18 Years – 50 Years
Sex
ALL
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Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Change in Rectal Temperature at Rest
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Rectal Temperature Rate of Rise
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Rectal Temperature at Thermal Threshold (38.5C)
Timeframe: Measured throughout 5 90-minute exercise-heat stress bouts (heat acclimation sessions)
Change in Mean Skin Temperature
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Heart Rate
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Heart Rate at Thermal Threshold (38.5C)
Timeframe: Measured throughout 5 90-minute exercise-heat stress bouts (heat acclimation sessions)
Change in Whole Body Sweat Rate
Timeframe: Measured at the beginning and end of 5 90-minute exercise-heat stress bouts (heat acclimation sessions)
Change in Sweat Metabolite and Protein Expression
Timeframe: Measurement completed during each exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Tests 1 [days 5 and 12] and 2 [days 6 and 13]) both before and immediately after heat acclimation as well as the final heat acclimation session (HA5 - day 11)
Change in Cognitive Measures - Visual Vigilance
Timeframe: Measurement completed immediately after one exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Cognitive Measures - Psychomotor Vigilance
Timeframe: Measurement completed immediately after one exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Cognitive Measures - Four Choice Task
Timeframe: Measurement completed immediately after one exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Cognitive Measures - Match to Sample
Timeframe: Measurement completed immediately after one exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Cognitive Measures - Repeated Acquisition
Timeframe: Measurement completed immediately after one exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Cognitive Measures - Grammatical Reasoning
Timeframe: Measurement completed immediately after one exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Cognitive Measures - Profile of Mood States
Timeframe: Measurement completed immediately after one exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Cognitive Measures - Stroop Task
Timeframe: Measurement completed immediately after one exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Physical Performance - Anaerobic Performance
Timeframe: Measurements completed immediately after the cognitive battery performed during the Heat Tolerance Test 2 (days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Physical Performance - Agility Performance
Timeframe: Measurements completed immediately after the cognitive battery performed during the Heat Tolerance Test 2 (days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Physical Performance - Upper Body Strength Performance
Timeframe: Measurements completed immediately after the cognitive battery performed during the Heat Tolerance Test 2 (days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Physical Performance - Lower Body Power Performance
Timeframe: Measurements completed immediately after the cognitive battery performed during the Heat Tolerance Test 2 (days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Physical Performance - Lower Body Kinematic Performance
Timeframe: Measurements completed immediately after the cognitive battery performed during the Heat Tolerance Test 2 (days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Physical Performance - Balance Performance
Timeframe: Measurements completed immediately after the cognitive battery performed during the Heat Tolerance Test 2 (days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Musculoskeletal Gene and Protein Expression
Timeframe: Measurement completed after the performance of an exercise-heat stress bout and physical performance battery (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Musculoskeletal Fiber-Typing
Timeframe: Measurement completed after the performance of an exercise-heat stress bout and physical performance battery (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Musculoskeletal Mitochondrial Function
Timeframe: Measurement completed after the performance of an exercise-heat stress bout and physical performance battery (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Subcutaneous Abdominal Tissue (SCAAT) Lipolysis Rate
Timeframe: Measurement completed after the performance of an exercise-heat stress bout and physical performance battery (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Resting Energy Expenditure and Macronutrient Oxidation
Timeframe: Measurement completed after the performance of an exercise-heat stress bout and physical performance battery (Heat Tolerance Test 2 - days 6 and 13) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Circulatory Indicators of Lipid Metabolism - NEFAs
Timeframe: Throughout study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Circulatory Indicators of Lipid Metabolism - Insulin
Timeframe: Throughout study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Circulatory Indicators of Lipid Metabolism - IGF-1
Timeframe: Throughout study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Circulatory Indicators of Stress - Epinephrine
Timeframe: Throughout study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Circulatory Indicators of Stress - Norepinephrine
Timeframe: Throughout study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Circulatory Indicators of Stress - Cortisol
Timeframe: Throughout study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Circulatory RNA Content
Timeframe: Throughout study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Circulatory Indicators of Inflammation - IL-1B
Timeframe: Measurement completed during the completion of exercise-heat stress bouts (Heat Tolerance Tests 1 [days 5 and 12] and 2 [days 6 and 13]) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Circulatory Indicators of Inflammation - TNF-a
Timeframe: Measurement completed during the completion of exercise-heat stress bouts (Heat Tolerance Tests 1 [days 5 and 12] and 2 [days 6 and 13]) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Circulatory Indicators of Inflammation - IFN-gamma
Timeframe: Measurement completed during the completion of exercise-heat stress bouts (Heat Tolerance Tests 1 [days 5 and 12] and 2 [days 6 and 13]) both before and immediately after heat acclimation
Change in Gut Microbiome Diversity
Timeframe: Measurement completed prior to the completion of an exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Test 2) both before and after heat acclimation
Change in Saliva Metabolite Expression
Timeframe: Measurement completed during each exercise-heat stress bout (Heat Tolerance Tests 1 and 2) both before and after heat acclimation as well as the final heat acclimation session (HA5)
Change in Thermal Sensation
Timeframe: Through study completion, an average of 14 days
Change in Recovery
Timeframe: Throughout study completion, an average of 14 days