Age dependent reference intervals of glucose, urea, protein, lactate and electrolytes in thermally induced sweat.

Concentrations of electrolytes, lactate, urea, glucose, total lipids and total protein were measured in sweat obtained by thermal stimulation of apparently healthy volunteers. Blood and urine samples were also collected. Electrolytes, urea and total protein were also measured in serum. The concentrations of electrolytes, glucose and urea in sweat increased with age, and this increase was more apparent in males, probably due to certain age-related changes in male sweat glands. The concentrations of lactate, total protein and total lipids in sweat, however, were not age-dependent. The concentration of total protein was higher in females than in males. The concentrations of all the other analytes were higher in males than in females of the same age group.