Physical exercise at high altitude has become common as one of the luxuries of modern life. Physical activities begin to be affected at about the elevation of 1,300 m due to reductions in ventilation. Endurance (aerobic) exercises are affected more by altitude than sprinting or anaerobic exercise. Training time for acclimatization needs to be longer as the altitude becomes higher [1].Several researchers have investigated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production activity of circulating neutrophils after exercise and have reported conflicting findings including increases, decreases or no change in the response [2]. The variability in the findings could be attributable to the difference in the intensity and duration of exercise or the sampling point for the assesment. Hack et al. reported increased ROS after 1 d of exercise [3]. In many studies, ROSs' are found to be decreased after exercise [4]. Physical exercise at high altitude decreases the generation of free radical species and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) [5]. At high altitude, the decreased filterability of erythrocytes may be due to increased lipid peroxidation [6]. Radak et al. (1997) have shown that 4 weeks of exercise at an altitude of 4,000 m increased the activity of mitochondrial SOD in skeletal muscle [5]. Exhaled nitric oxide increases through exercise, but there is no information for high altitude. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of high altitude on the oxidant-antioxidant mechanisms and NO x levels in trained subjects.
MATERIALS AND METHODSThis study was performed using nine healthy male (mean age 19.3Ϯ3.7) and nine healthy female (mean age 18.3Ϯ2) cross-country skiers with at least 1 year of experience. They individually prepared themselves by endurance training daily for 1.5 h by skiing at low (856 m above sea level in Ankara) and moderate (2,300 m above sea level in Erciyes, PO 2 was 83 mm Hg) altitudes. The period of stay at the moderate altitude was 7 d. All of the blood measurements were performed before (12 h before moving to the moderate altitude), during (1st day and 7th day) and Japanese Journal of Physiology, 50, 187-190, 2000 Key words: nitric oxide, nitrite, superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, altitude.
Abstract:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of staying at a moderate altitude (2,300 m, 7 d) on the levels of plasma nitrite, exhaled nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Measurements were obtained from 9 female (mean age 18.3Ϯ2) and 9 male (mean age 19.3Ϯ3.7) cross-country volunteer skiers: before, during (1st day, 7th day) and after staying at a moderate altitude. Exhaled nitric oxide levels were measured only before and after staying at the altitude. Nitrite levels increased throughout the stay at the altitude, while MDA levels decreased. In parallel with the nitrite levels, SOD activities were also found to have increased. Exhaled NO values were decreased after the stay at the moderate altitude. These results show that altitude hypoxia ...