Implications of moderate altitude training for sea-level endurance in elite distance runners |
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Authors: | Damian Miles Bailey Bruce Davies Lee Romer Lindy Castell Eric Newsholme and George Gandy |
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Institution: | (1) Field of Health and Exercise Science, School of Applied Sciences, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, South Wales, UK, GB;(2) British Olympic Medical Centre, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, Middlesex, UK, GB;(3) Cellular Nutrition Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, UK, GB;(4) Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK, GB |
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Abstract: | Elite distance runners participated in one of two studies designed to investigate the effects of moderate altitude training
(inspiratory partial pressure of oxygen ≈115–125 mmHg) on submaximal, maximal and supramaximal exercise performance following
return to sea-level. Study 1 (New Mexico, USA) involved 14 subjects who were assigned to a 4-week altitude training camp (1500–2000 m)
whilst 9 performance-matched subjects continued with an identical training programme at sea-level (CON). Ten EXP subjects
who trained at 1640 m and 19 CON subjects also participated in study 2 (Krugersdorp, South Africa). Selected metabolic and
cardiorespiratory parameters were determined with the subjects at rest and during exercise 21 days prior to (PRE) and 10 and
20 days following their return to sea-level (POST). Whole blood lactate decreased by 23% (P < 0.05 vs PRE) during submaximal exercise in the EXP group only after 20 days at sea-level (study 1). However, the lactate
threshold and other measures of running economy remained unchanged. Similarly, supramaximal performance during a standardised
track session did not change. Study 2 demonstrated that hypoxia per se did not alter performance. In contrast, in the EXP
group supramaximal running velocity decreased by 2% (P < 0.05) after 20 days at sea-level. Both studies were characterised by a 50% increase in the frequency of upper respiratory
and gastrointestinal tract infections during the altitude sojourns, and two male subjects were diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis
following their return to sea-level (study 1). Group mean plasma glutamine concentrations at rest decreased by 19% or 143
(74) μM (P < 0.001) after 3 weeks at altitude, which may have been implicated in the increased incidence of infectious illness.
Accepted: 19 March 1998 |
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Keywords: | Hypobaric hypoxia Infectious mononucleosis Plasma glutamine Immunosuppression |
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