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

Abstract

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.

Live High-Train Low Altitude Training: Responders and Non- Responders

“…The relative increase (compared to non-responders) in the current study in SpO 2 in responders (which corroborates the theory of Chapman et al could be explained in part by increased haemoglobin concentration [30], enhanced erythropoietic response [7,31], which may result in increased red cell volume [4] and subsequently increased arterial oxygen content. Weil et al noted a graded response such that an increase in red cell mass was proportional to oxyhaemoglobin saturation at sea level and altitude [32].…”

“…The mechanisms that contribute to individual variability in responders and non-responders are difficult to elucidate. Large interindividual variations in physiological responses to hypoxia have been reported, including, erythropoietin release [7] and maximum oxygen consumption [5]. Previous research has suggested a possible reason for performance variation with altitude training may be differences in gene expression [11,13] and may also relate to different stress thresholds within athletes [14].…”

“…Chapman et al found that performance improvement was associated with increased Erythropoietin (Epo) which increased total red cell volume and subsequently VO 2max after a 28-day altitude training camp in responders [5]. However, wide inter-individual variability has been found in erythropoietic response to altitude training which might not identify those elite athletes who respond to altitude training [7]. For example, Ge et al reported individual responses in Epo ranged from -41 to 400% from baseline after 24 hours at 2800 m [8].…”

Acute Normobaric Hypoxia Stimulates Erythropoietin Release

“…Knaupp et al (1992) Rusko et al (1995); Mattila and Rusko, (1996);Chapman et al (1998);Piehl-Aulin et al (1998); Rusko et al (1999); Ashenden et al (2000); Koistinen et al (2000); StrayGundersen et al (2001);Ge et al (2002);Friedmann et al (2005) Ն3800 m (F IO2 ϳ0.135) Eckardt et al (1989); Knaupp et al Vallier et al (1996);Garcia et (1992); Savourey et al (1996);al. (2000); Katayama et al Rodriguez et al (2000); Niess et al (2003); Julian et al (2004); ( Rusko et al (1995); Mattila and Rusko (1996); Savourey et al (1996); Chapman et al (1998);Piehl-Aulin et al (1998a);Piehl-Aulin et al (1998b); Rusko et al (1999); Ashenden et al (2000); Koistinen et al (2000); Stray-Gundersen et al (2001); Dehnert et al (2002); Ge et al (2002) brecht and Littell, 1972;Eckardt et al, 1989).…”

Entrenamiento en hipoxia intermitente y rendimiento ciclista en triatletas / Intermittent hypoxic training and cycling performance in triathletes

“…También existen otras investigaciones previas (Calbet et al, 2003;Consolazio, Nelson, Matoush & Hansen, 1996;Wolfel, Groves & Brooks, 1991;Tadibi, Dehnert, Menold & Bartsch, 2007) que utilizan la exposición a hipoxia intermitente como estímulo, donde el umbral anaeróbico no se modificó o incluso descendió trasun programa de altitud simulada (Katayama, Matsuo, Ishida, Mori & Miyamura, 2003;Lundby, Nielsen & Dela, 2005). Los resultados de nuestra investigación son compartidos por Bonetti et al (2009) que observaron un incremento del 6.5% en la potencia generada en el umbral anaeróbico de 18 triatletas y ciclistas después de 15 sesiones de 60 minutos de duración a una SpO2 del 76-90% o por Friedmann et al (2005) que observaron un incremento del 3 % en la velocidad del umbral anaeróbico tras un programa de IHE de 4 horas diarias al 15 % del FiO2 en 16 nadadores. Estos resultados concuerdan con los que obtienen Rodríguez, Ventura y Casas (2000) que observaron un incremento significativo en la potencia desarrollada en el umbral anaeróbico en ciclistas después de tres semanas de exposición a hipoxia intermitente a 5500 m, durante 3 horas, 3 veces por semana.…”