It is generally accepted that an increase in blood CO(2) increases ventilation. We also know that during carbohydrate metabolism a larger amount of CO(2) is produced than during metabolism of lipids or proteins. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess whether carbohydrate ingestion can increase CO(2) production enough to stimulate ventilation, which could in turn increase arterial oxygenation and alleviate the symptoms of hypoxia in a hypoxic environment. Fourteen subjects participated in two trials, which consisted of two normoxic and an acute hypoxic period (F(i(O(2))) = 12.86%). Following the first control normoxic period, the subjects ingested either a 10% water solution of sucrose (CHO; 4 kcal/kg body mass) or an equal volume of water (control). Hemoglobin saturation, heart rate, and ventilation parameters were monitored throughout the experiment. In contrast to the control trial, CO(2) production (V(CO(2)); L), ventilation (V; L/min), and heart rate were all significantly (p < 0.001) increased in the CHO trial during the second normoxic exposure; these parameters were also significantly elevated during the hypoxic exposure, as compared to the control trial. Carbohydrate ingestion 40 min prior to acute hypoxic exposure significantly (p < 0.001) improved hemoglobin saturation by 4%. The results suggest that ingestion of carbohydrates can improve arterial oxygenation during acute hypoxic exposure.

Cardiac arrhythmias are associated with an increase in sympathetic activity (reflected in increased heart rate) and a simultaneous decrease in rhythmical fluctuations of sympathetic activity [reflected in decreased heart rate variability (HRV)]. As hypoxia is a well known trigger for cardiac arrhythmias, and carbohydrate loading a known sympatho-excitatory stimulus, the present study investigated if carbohydrate loading affects the cardiac response to acute hypoxic challenge. Fourteen subjects ingested a sucrose solution or an equal volume of water and spectral analysis of HRV was used to determine HRV components in normoxia and acute, normobaric hypoxia. Compared to the control condition, ingestion of carbohydrates increased heart rate, spectral power of nLF (P < 0.02) and LF/HF ratio (P < 0.003), and decreased spectral power of nHF (P < 0.03) during hypoxia. Carbohydrate ingestion thus intensified cardiac autonomic modulation during acute hypoxia and may therefore act as a beneficial protective mechanism against the disturbances of cardiac rhythm in hypoxic conditions.