Haemoglobin Mass and Running Time Trial Performance after Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Administration in Trained Men

Abstract

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) increases haemoglobin mass (Hbmass) and maximal oxygen uptake ( O2 max).PurposeThis study defined the time course of changes in Hbmass, O2 max as well as running time trial performance following 4 weeks of rHuEpo administration to determine whether the laboratory observations would translate into actual improvements in running performance in the field.Methods19 trained men received rHuEpo injections of 50 IU•kg−1 body mass every two days for 4 weeks. Hbmass was determined weekly using the optimized carbon monoxide rebreathing method until 4 weeks after administration. O2 max and 3,000 m time trial performance were measured pre, post administration and at the end of the study.ResultsRelative to baseline, running performance significantly improved by ∼6% after administration (10∶30±1∶07 min:sec vs. 11∶08±1∶15 min:sec, p<0.001) and remained significantly enhanced by ∼3% 4 weeks after administration (10∶46±1∶13 min:sec, p<0.001), while O2 max was also significantly increased post administration (60.7±5.8 mL•min−1•kg−1 vs. 56.0±6.2 mL•min−1•kg−1, p<0.001) and remained significantly increased 4 weeks after rHuEpo (58.0±5.6 mL•min−1•kg−1, p = 0.021). Hbmass was significantly increased at the end of administration compared to baseline (15.2±1.5 g•kg−1 vs. 12.7±1.2 g•kg−1, p<0.001). The rate of decrease in Hbmass toward baseline values post rHuEpo was similar to that of the increase during administration (−0.53 g•kg−1•wk−1, 95% confidence interval (CI) (−0.68, −0.38) vs. 0.54 g•kg−1•wk−1, CI (0.46, 0.63)) but Hbmass was still significantly elevated 4 weeks after administration compared to baseline (13.7±1.1 g•kg−1, p<0.001).ConclusionRunning performance was improved following 4 weeks of rHuEpo and remained elevated 4 weeks after administration compared to baseline. These field performance effects coincided with rHuEpo-induced elevated O2 max and Hbmass.

An integrative ‘Omics’ solution to the detection of recombinant human erythropoietin and blood doping

“…Briefly, relative to baseline, running performance was significantly improved following 4 weeks of rHumanEPO administration in sea level Caucasian-trained men and remained significantly elevated 4 weeks after administration by approximately 6% and 3%, respectively; these performance effects coincided with significantly rHumanEPO-induced elevated and Hb mass. 38 rHumanEPO administration improved and time trial performance to a similar extent in KEN and SCO runners despite a higher haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration in KEN compared with SCO prior to rHumanEPO and similar at the end of administration 39. With regard to the transcriptomic data, preliminary results show that relative to baseline, hundreds of genes were differentially expressed during rHumanEPO administration 40.…”

“…Time points at key stages were selected for gene expression analysis (figure 3). Phenotypic results from this first study are beginning to emerge 38 39. Briefly, relative to baseline, running performance was significantly improved following 4 weeks of rHumanEPO administration in sea level Caucasian-trained men and remained significantly elevated 4 weeks after administration by approximately 6% and 3%, respectively; these performance effects coincided with significantly rHumanEPO-induced elevated and Hb mass.…”

“…Using both phenotypic and molecular methods, the first study was carried out at sea level in Glasgow (Scotland (SCO), UK) with Caucasian endurance-trained men38 and at moderate altitude (∼2150 m) in Eldoret (Kenya (KEN)) with KEN endurance runners39 who abstained from official sporting competition for the entire duration of the study. The specific aims of this first study were:

To determine and compare the effects of rHumanEPO administration on blood parameters and exercise performance in endurance-trained men living and training at or near sea level with another cohort living and training at moderate altitude (∼2150 m) in KEN.

To establish adequate molecular methods and molecular workflow to enable valid and optimal assessment of blood gene expression.

To assess the effects of rHumanEPO on blood gene expression profiles in endurance-trained volunteers living and training at or near sea level.

To replicate and compare the effects of rHumanEPO administration on blood gene expression profiles in another cohort living and training at moderate altitude (∼2150 m) in KEN.

To validate the gene-microarray-based findings using another specific and sensitive quantitative gene expression technology.

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Tour de France Champions born or made: where do we take the genetics of performance?

“…however, if they exercise, the additional oxygen carrying capacity gives them an advantage at endurance events; similar to the effects of injecting the drug EPO (Durussel et al, 2013).…”

Erythropoietin between therapy and doping : Two sides of the same coin

“…Erythropoietin improves performance in athletes primary by intensifying of erythropoiesis and raise of maximal O 2 uptake, usually between 6 and 12% (33). To improve endurance, some athletes went for blood manipulations, so called blood doping, first with blood transfusions in the 1970s and 1980s (although earliest reports in literature date back to 1945), and then rHuEPO abuse started, soon after its introduction to clinical practice (26,29,32,34). Therefore, in 1990 the International Olympic Committee prohibited rHuEPO use in athletes (26,35 (33).…”