Sex‐linked difference in blood oxygen saturation

Levental, Sagi; Picard, Elie; Mimouni, Francis; Joseph, Leon; Samuel, Tal Y; Bromiker, Reuben; Mandel, Dror; Goldberg, Shmuel

doi:10.1111/crj.12753

Cited by 23 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Additionally, physiological parameters such as the peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) also seem to succumb these sex-specific influences as Ricart et al [61] measured at sea level slightly but significantly higher SpO 2 values in women than in men. Levental et al [62] confirmed these findings and additionally found no such sex differences in newborns. Thus, the authors assumed that age-related hormonal differences are involved and attributed a possible indirect effect of sex on SpO 2 to the influence of reduced dead space due to women's smaller airways.…”

Section: Differential Neurohumoral Response Pattern and Psychologicalmentioning

confidence: 81%

Sex differences in stress and immune responses during confinement in Antarctica

Strewe¹,

Moser²,

Buchheim³

et al. 2019

Biol Sex Differ

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Background: Antarctica challenges human explorers by its extreme environment. The effects of these unique conditions on the human physiology need to be understood to best mitigate health problems in Antarctic expedition crews. Moreover, Antarctica is an adequate Earth-bound analogue for long-term space missions. To date, its effects on human physiology have been studied mainly in male cohorts though more female expeditioners and applicants in astronaut training programs are selected. Therefore, the identification of sex differences in stress and immune reactions are becoming an even more essential aim to provide a more individualized risk management. Methods: Ten female and 16 male subjects participated in three 1-year expeditions to the German Antarctic Research Station Neumayer III. Blood, saliva, and urine samples were taken 1-2 months prior to departure, subsequently every month during their expedition, and 3-4 months after return from Antarctica. Analyses included cortisol, catecholamine and endocannabinoid measurements; psychological evaluation; differential blood count; and recall antigen-and mitogen-stimulated cytokine profiles. Results: Cortisol showed significantly higher concentrations in females than males during winter whereas no enhanced psychological stress was detected in both sexes. Catecholamine excretion was higher in males than females but never showed significant increases compared to baseline. Endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamides increased significantly in both sexes and stayed consistently elevated during the confinement. Cytokine profiles after in vitro stimulation revealed no sex differences but resulted in significant time-dependent changes. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly higher in males than females, and hemoglobin increased significantly in both sexes compared to baseline. Platelet counts were significantly higher in females than males. Leukocytes and granulocyte concentrations increased during confinement with a dip for both sexes in winter whereas lymphocytes were significantly elevated in both sexes during the confinement. Conclusions: The extreme environment of Antarctica seems to trigger some distinct stress and immune responses but-with the exception of cortisol and blood cell counts-without any major relevant sex-specific differences. Stated sex differences were shown to be independent of enhanced psychological stress and seem to be related to the environmental conditions. However, sources and consequences of these sex differences have to be further elucidated.

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Section: Differential Neurohumoral Response Pattern and Psychologicalmentioning

confidence: 81%

Sex differences in stress and immune responses during confinement in Antarctica

Strewe¹,

Moser²,

Buchheim³

et al. 2019

Biol Sex Differ

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“…A further explanation may be related to potentially lower hemoglobin levels in the females. Low hemoglobin is associated with an increased level of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG), due to the decrease in oxygen carrying capacity ( 79 ). This results in a shift in oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to the right, decreasing the affinity of oxygen to the hemoglobin, and reducing the SpO 2 ( 79 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Low hemoglobin is associated with an increased level of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG), due to the decrease in oxygen carrying capacity ( 79 ). This results in a shift in oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to the right, decreasing the affinity of oxygen to the hemoglobin, and reducing the SpO 2 ( 79 ). This shift is exaggerated at high altitude and females may be more sensitive to this shift, irrespective of VO 2 max.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Differences in Autonomic Cardiac Control and Oxygen Saturation Response to Short-Term Normobaric Hypoxia and Following Recovery: Effect of Aerobic Fitness

2018

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Introduction: The main aims of this study were to investigate autonomic nervous system (ANS) and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) responses to simulated altitude in males and females, and to determine the association between maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and these responses.Materials and Methods: Heart rate variability (HRV) and SpO2 were monitored in a resting supine position during Preliminary (6 min normoxia), Hypoxia (10 min, fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of 9.6%, simulated altitude ~6,200 m) and Recovery (6 min normoxia) phases in 28 males (age 23.7 ± 1.7 years, normoxic VO2max 59.0 ± 7.8 ml.kg−1.min−1, body mass index (BMI) 24.2 ± 2.1 kg.m−2) and 30 females (age 23.8 ± 1.8 years, VO2max 45.1 ± 8.7 ml.kg−1.min−1, BMI 21.8 ± 3.0 kg.m−2). Spectral analysis of HRV quantified the ANS activity by means of low frequency (LF, 0.05–0.15 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 0.15–0.50 Hz) power, transformed by natural logarithm (Ln). Time domain analysis incorporated the square root of the mean of the squares of the successive differences (rMSSD).Results: There were no significant differences in SpO2 level during hypoxia between the males (71.9 ± 7.5%) and females (70.8 ± 7.1%). Vagally-related HRV variables (Ln HF and Ln rMSSD) exhibited no significant differences between sexes across each phase. However, while the sexes demonstrated similar Ln LF/HF values during the Preliminary phase, the males (0.5 ± 1.3) had a relatively higher (p = 0.001) sympathetic activity compared to females (−0.6 ± 1.4) during the Hypoxia phase. Oxygen desaturation during resting hypoxia was significantly correlated with VO2max in males (r = −0.45, p = 0.017) but not in females (r = 0.01, p = 0.952) and difference between regression lines were significant (p = 0.024).Conclusions: Despite similar oxygen desaturation levels, males exhibited a relatively higher sympathetic responses to hypoxia exposure compared with females. In addition, the SpO2 response to resting hypoxia exposure was related to maximal aerobic capacity in males but not females.

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“…However, very few related studies have been conducted on women [37]. Numerous studies investigating sex difference in blood oxygen saturation reported that females have higher average of SpO 2 than males [38] due to sex-specific differences in hormones [39], which regulate breathing control and indirectly induce changes in function of the respiratory system [37,38]. Moreover, it has been acknowledged that estrogen has beneficial effects on CBF [39] as increasing estrogen levels can reduce cerebrovascular resistance [40] and proliferate CBF velocity [41].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Severe Hypoxia Does Not Offset the Benefits of Exercise on Cognitive Function in Sedentary Young Women

Lei

Kong

Loprinzi

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Purpose: To examine the effect of acute moderate-intensity continuous exercise performed under normobaric severe hypoxia on cognition, compared to sea-level normoxia. Methods: Thirty healthy inactive women randomly performed two experimental trials separated by at least three days but at approximately the same time of day. Executive functions were measured during the follicular stage via an interference control task before (rest) and during exercise with 45% peak power output under normobaric normoxia (PIO2 = 150 mmHg, FIO2 = 0.21), and (2) hypoxia (PIO2 = 87 mmHg, FIO2 = 0.12, simulated at an altitude of 4000 m). Reaction time (RT), accuracy rate (AC), heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion, and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were collected before and during exercise. Results: RT (p < 0.05, η2p = 0.203) decreased during moderate exercise when compared at rest, while a short bout of severe hypoxia improved RT (p < 0.05, η2p = 0.134). Exercise and hypoxia had no effects on AC (p > 0.05). No significant associations were found between the changes of RT and SpO2 under the conditions of normoxia and hypoxia (p > 0.05). Conclusions: At the same phase of the menstrual cycle, a short bout of severe hypoxia simulated at 4000 m altitude caused no impairment at rest. RT during moderate exercise ameliorated in normoxia and severe hypoxia, suggesting that both exercise and short-term severe hypoxia have benefits on cognitive function in sedentary young women.

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Sex‐linked difference in blood oxygen saturation

Abstract: Healthy young female adults have a higher (1.5%) SpO than their male counterparts. This difference is not yet present at birth. Further studies are needed to determine the timing of sex-differences, and to better define the mechanism(s) behind this observation.

Cited by 23 publications

References 24 publications

Sex differences in stress and immune responses during confinement in Antarctica

Sex differences in stress and immune responses during confinement in Antarctica

Sex Differences in Autonomic Cardiac Control and Oxygen Saturation Response to Short-Term Normobaric Hypoxia and Following Recovery: Effect of Aerobic Fitness

Severe Hypoxia Does Not Offset the Benefits of Exercise on Cognitive Function in Sedentary Young Women

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