Validating sweat ammonia as physiological parameter for wearable devices in sports science

Renner E, Lang N, Langenstein B, Struck M, Bertsch T (2020)

Publication Type: Conference contribution

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society

Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

Book Volume: 2020-July

Pages Range: 4644-4647

Conference Proceedings Title: Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBS

Event location: Montreal, QC CA

ISBN: 9781728119908

DOI: 10.1109/EMBC44109.2020.9175434

Abstract

The measurement of physiological parameters in sweat has long been assumed to offer a non-invasive alternative to conventional blood testing. Recently, advances in sensor technology enable the production of printed sweat sensors applicable for the use in wearable devices. However, the remaining challenge is the determination of the physiological correlation between blood and sweat components. In this study, we conducted ammonia measurements in blood and sweat during a stepwise incremental cycle ergometer test in 40 subjects under completely controlled conditions in a clinical environment to determine the correlation between the ammonium concentrations in blood and sweat. Samples were taken for each workload step separately. Sweat was sampled directly from the upper body, blood was taken from an indwelling cannula at the end of each workload step, respectively. For meaningful classification of the measured quantities, blood lactate and heart rate were monitored additionally. The results for blood ammonium concentration show increasing behavior in good accordance with the established indicators for physical exhaustion, whereas sweat ammonium concentration seems to decrease with workload. This is found to be due to dilution, as sweat rate increases. The presented results provide insight in the correlation between blood and sweat parameters and therefore are of high importance for further development of wearable devices.Clinical Relevance - Sweat sensing opens up new possibilities for non-invasive, continuous in-situ monitoring of physiological parameters for healthcare and sports science applications.

Authors with CRIS profile

Esther Renner Lehrstuhl für Hochfrequenztechnik

Involved external institutions

Fraunhofer-Institut für Integrierte Systeme und Bauelementetechnologie (IISB) DE Germany (DE) Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität, Nürnberg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Renner, E., Lang, N., Langenstein, B., Struck, M., & Bertsch, T. (2020). Validating sweat ammonia as physiological parameter for wearable devices in sports science. In Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBS (pp. 4644-4647). Montreal, QC, CA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc..

MLA:

Renner, Esther, et al. "Validating sweat ammonia as physiological parameter for wearable devices in sports science." Proceedings of the 42nd Annual International Conferences of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2020, Montreal, QC Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2020. 4644-4647.

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