Effects of a 12-day “live high, train low” camp on reticulocyte production and haemoglobin mass in elite female road cyclists

Ashenden, Michael; Gore, Christopher J.; Martin, David T.; Dobson, Geoffrey P.; Hahn, Allan G.

doi:10.1007/s004210050620

Cited by 79 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…6 7 Results of studies on the effects either of living and training at moderate altitude or of living at moderate altitude and training at low altitude on total haemoglobin mass (red cell volume) and sea level performance are controversial. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] In most of the studies with elite athletes, total haemoglobin mass was not significantly increased after living and training at moderate altitude.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual variation in the erythropoietic response to altitude training in elite junior swimmers

Friedmann

2005

Br J Sports Med

114

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Objectives: Inter-individual variations in sea level performance after altitude training have been attributed, at least in part, to an inter-individual variability in hypoxia induced erythropoiesis. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the variability in the increase in total haemoglobin mass after training at moderate altitude could be predicted by the erythropoietin response after 4 h exposure to normobaric hypoxia at an ambient Po 2 corresponding to the training altitude. Methods: Erythropoietin levels were measured in 16 elite junior swimmers before and after 4 h exposure to normobaric hypoxia (Fio 2 0.15, ,2500 m) as well as repeatedly during 3 week altitude training (2100-2300 m). Before and after the altitude training, total haemoglobin mass (CO rebreathing) and performance in a stepwise increasing swimming test were determined. Results: The erythropoietin increase (10-185%) after 4 h exposure to normobaric hypoxia showed considerable inter-individual variation and was significantly (p,0.001) correlated with the acute erythropoietin increase during altitude training but not with the change in total haemoglobin mass (significant increase of ,6% on average). The change in sea level performance after altitude training was not related to the change in total haemoglobin mass. Conclusions:The results of the present prospective study confirmed the wide inter-individual variability in erythropoietic response to altitude training in elite athletes. However, their erythropoietin response to acute altitude exposure might not identify those athletes who respond to altitude training with an increase in total haemoglobin mass.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual variation in the erythropoietic response to altitude training in elite junior swimmers

Friedmann

2005

Br J Sports Med

114

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“…Moreover, it is important to recognize that short-term exposure to acute hypoxia may increase hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration by hemoconcentration and may increase reticulocyte counts by release of immature red cell forms from the bone marrow, without a true acceleration of erythropoiesis (Gunga et al, 1996). Some investigators, failing to observe an increase in hemoglobin-myoglobin mass after brief periods of time in normobaric hypoxic environments (8 to 10 h/night for 10 d for 3 weeks) have questioned the erythropoietic effect of moderate altitude exposure altogether (Ashenden et al, 1999a(Ashenden et al, , 1999b(Ashenden et al, , 2000, and it seems certain from these data that, under the 180 LEVINE specific conditions of these experiments, sleeping in a nitrogen-enriched environment may in fact not be erythropoietic. Although short-duration exposures of less than 10 h for less than 3 weeks do not raise red cell mass in the Australian experience (Ashenden et al, 1999a(Ashenden et al, , 1999b(Ashenden et al, , 2000, Finnish investigators have been able to demonstrate increases in red cell mass (using the same technique, carbon monoxide rebreathing, as the Australian investigators using shorter-term exposures) with 16 h of hypoxia/night for 4 weeks (Laitinen et al, 1995;Rusko et al, 1999).…”

Section: Erythropoietic Effect Of High Altitudementioning

confidence: 99%

Intermittent Hypoxic Training: Fact and Fancy

Levine

2002

High Altitude Medicine & Biology

163

142

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LTITUD E TRAINING has been used frequently by endurance athletes to enhance performance. However, not all athletes or teams have the resources to travel to high altitude environments on a regular basis. Moreover, issues such as availability of adequate training facilities have limited the use of mountain-based altitude training. In the last few years, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of techniques designed to "bring the mountain to the athlete." Nitrogen houses, hypoxia tents, and special breathing apparatuses to provide inspired hypoxia at rest and during exercise, all have been developed and promoted to simulate what are perceived as the critical elements of altitude training.Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) refers to the discontinuous use of normobaric or hypobaric hypoxia, in an attempt to reproduce some of these key features of altitude acclimatization, with the ultimate goal to improve sea-level athletic performance. In general, IHT can be divided into two different strategies: (1) providing hypoxia at rest with High Alt Med Biol. 3:177-193, 2002.-Intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) refers to the discontinuous use of normobaric or hypobaric hypoxia, in an attempt to reproduce some of the key features of altitude acclimatization, with the ultimate goal to improve sea-level athletic performance. In general, IHT can be divided into two different strategies: (1) providing hypoxia at rest with the primary goal being to stimulate altitude acclimatization or (2) providing hypoxia during exercise, with the primary goal being to enhance the training stimulus. Each approach has many different possible application strategies, with the essential variable among them being the "dose" of hypoxia necessary to achieve the desired effect. One approach, called living high-training low, has been shown to improve sea-level endurance performance. This strategy combines altitude acclimatization (2500 m) with low altitude training to ensure high-quality training. The opposite strategy, living low-training high, has also been proposed by some investigators. The primacy of the altitude acclimatization effect in IHT is demonstrated by the following facts: (1) living high-training low clearly improves performance in athletes of all abilities, (2) the mechanism of this improvement is primarily an increase in erythropoietin, leading to increased red cell mass, V O 2max , and running performance, and (3) rather than intensifying the training stimulus, training at altitude or under hypoxia leads to the opposite effect-reduced speeds, reduced power output, reduced oxygen flux-and therefore is not likely to provide any advantage for a well-trained athlete.

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“…2 Apparently at variance with this concept, several studies have shown unchanged Hb mass and/ or EV after LHTL or living high and training high, [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] but critical inspection of their data indicates that either the selected altitude for ''living high'' was probably 11 too low, 6 8-10 and/or the duration was too short. [3][4][5] Rusko et al 12 indicated that the hypoxic stimulus to increase Hb mass and EV should be least 400 hours at 2300-2500 m. Several studies 2 13-15 have shown increased Hb mass or EV after LHTL with this stimulus. However, the athletes in these studies were not reported to be world class.…”

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confidence: 99%

Live high-train low associated with increased haemoglobin mass as preparation for the 2003 World Championships in two native European world class runners

Wehrlin

2006

Br J Sports Med

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Background: It is unclear whether world class endurance athletes, in contrast with less well trained subjects, increase their haemoglobin mass on a regimen of living high and training low (LHTL). Objective: To assess whether haemoglobin mass increases in world class athletes on LHTL and whether this increase is associated with peak performance at a subsequent important competition. Methods: Two Swiss world class runners (one 5000 m and one marathon) lived for 26 days (18 hours a day) at an altitude of 2456 m and trained at 1800 m. This LHTL camp was the preparation for the World Athletic Championships taking place 27-29 days after the end of the camp. Haemoglobin mass and other haematological variables were measured before and after the LHTL camp. The performance parameter was the race times during that period. Results: Haemoglobin mass increased by 3.9% and 7.6%, and erythrocyte volume by 5.8% and 6.3%. The race times, as well as the ranking at the World Championships, indicated clearly improved performance after the LHTL camp. Conclusions:The results suggest that LHTL with an adequate dose of hypoxia can increase haemoglobin mass even in world class athletes, which may translate into improved performance at important competitions at sea level.

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Effects of a 12-day “live high, train low” camp on reticulocyte production and haemoglobin mass in elite female road cyclists

Cited by 79 publications

References 30 publications

Individual variation in the erythropoietic response to altitude training in elite junior swimmers

Individual variation in the erythropoietic response to altitude training in elite junior swimmers

Intermittent Hypoxic Training: Fact and Fancy

Live high-train low associated with increased haemoglobin mass as preparation for the 2003 World Championships in two native European world class runners

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