A quantitative study of free amino acids in eccrine sweat collected from the forearms of healthy young men during sauna bathing.

Using ion-exchange column chromatography we measured the free amino acids in eccrine sweat collected from the forearms of 20 healthy young men at intervals of 15, 30, and 45 min during sauna bathing. In comparison with the amino acid concentrations determined after 15 min of sweating (100%) a significant and uniform decrease occurred in the concentrations of all amino acids examined after a further 15 min (65%), with a further decrease after another 15 min (45%). These results indicate that either the mechanism of excretion of amino acids in the secretory cells of the eccrine sweat glands, or the reabsorption of amino acids by the ductular cells, or the combination of both mechanisms are similar for all the amino acids examined here.