Prolonged Sojourn at Very High Altitude Decreases Sea-Level Anaerobic Performance, Anaerobic Threshold, and Fat Mass

Abstract

Background: The influence of high altitude on an organism’s physiology depends on the length and the level of hypoxic exposure it experiences. This study aimed to determine the effect of a prolonged sojourn at very high altitudes (above 3,500m) on subsequent sea-level physical performance, body weight, body composition, and hematological parameters.Materials and Methods: Ten alpinists, nine males and one female, with a mean age of 27±4years, participated in the study. All had been on mountaineering expeditions to 7,000m peaks, where they spent 30±1days above 3,500m with their average sojourn at 4,900±60m. Their aerobic and anaerobic performance, body weight, body composition, and hematological parameters were examined at an altitude of 100m within 7days before the expeditions and 7days after they descended below 3,500m.Results: We found a significant (p<0.01) decrease in maximal anaerobic power (MAPWAnT) from 9.9±1.3 to 9.2±1.3W·kg−1, total anaerobic work from 248.1±23.8 to 228.1±20.1J·kg−1, anaerobic threshold from 39.3±8.0 to 27.8±5.6 mlO2·kg−1·min−1, body fat mass from 14.0±3.1 to 11.5±3.3%, and a significant increase (p<0.05) in maximal tidal volume from 3.2 [3.0–3.2] to 3.5 [3.3–3.9] L after their sojourn at very high attitude. We found no significant changes in maximal aerobic power, maximal oxygen uptake, body weight, fat-free mass, total body water, hemoglobin, and hematocrit.Conclusion: A month-long exposure to very high altitude led to impaired sea-level anaerobic performance and anaerobic threshold, increased maximal tidal volume, and depleted body fat mass, but had no effect on maximal aerobic power, maximal oxygen uptake, or hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.

Mitochondrial Ca2+ overload due to altered proteostasis amplifies apoptosis in C2C12 myoblasts under hypoxia: Protective role of nanocurcumin formulation

“…High-altitude hypoxia exposure is a life-threatening challenge that limits functional activity. 1,2 In addition, hypoxia is also an etiological factor in the global burden of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, sarcopenia, neuromuscular diseases, cancer cachexia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome and disuse, and restraining muscle performance. [3][4][5] These different ailments share Ca 2+ / mitochondrial abnormalities as a common pathological feature underlying skeletal muscle impairments, which can be a leading cause of death.…”