Erythropoiesis and Performance after Two Weeks of Living High and Training Low in Well Trained Triathletes

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 2002-11, Vol.23 (8), p.561-566
• Main Authors: Dehnert, C., Hütler, M., Liu, Y., Menold, E., Netzer, C., Schick, R., Kubanek, B., Lehmann, M., Böning, D., Steinacker, J. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acclimatization - physiology; Adolescent; Adult; Altitude; Biological and medical sciences; Erythropoiesis - physiology; Exercise - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Physical Education and Training - methods; Physiology & Biochemistry; Sports - physiology; Task Performance and Analysis; Vertebrates: blood, hematopoietic organs, reticuloendothelial system
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-35533

Abstract The purpose of our study was to evaluate hematologic acclimatization during 2 weeks of intensive normoxic training with regeneration at moderate altitude (living high-training low, LHTL) and its effects on sea-level performance in well trained athletes compared to another group of equally trained athletes under control conditions (living low - training low, CONTROL). Twenty-one triathletes were ascribed either to LHTL (n = 11; age: 23.0 ± 4.3 yrs; V˙O 2 max: 62.5 ± 9.7 [ml × min -1 × kg -1 ]) living at 1956 m of altitude or to CONTROL (n = 10; age: 18.7 ± 5.6 yrs; V˙O 2 max: 60.5 ± 6.7 ml × min -1 × kg -1 ) living at 800 m. Both groups perfomed an equal training schedule at 800 m. V˙O 2 max, endurance performance, erythropoietin in serum, hemoglobin mass (Hb tot , CO-rebreathing method) and hematological quantities were measured. A tendency to improved performance in LHTL after the camp was not significant (p < 0.07). Erythropoietin concentration increased temporarily in LHTL (Δ 14.3 ± 8.7 mU × ml -1 ; p < 0.012). Hb tot remained unchanged in LHTL whereas was slightly decreased from 12.5 ± 1.3 to 11.9 ± 1.3g × kg -1 in CONTROL (p < 0.01). As the reticulocyte number tended to higher values in LHTL than in CONTROL, it seems that a moderate stimulation of erythropoiesis during regeneration at altitude served as a compensation for an exercise-induced destruction of red cells.