The Modifications of Haemoglobin, Erythropoietin Values and Running Performance While Training at Mountain vs. Hilltop vs. Seaside

Maria Cristina Man, Cătălin Ganera, Gabriel Dan Bărbuleț, Michał Krzysztofik, Adelina Elena Panaet, Alina Ionela Cucui, Dragoș Ioan Tohănean and Dan Iulian Alexe
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Maria Cristina Man: Department of Physical Education, 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Cătălin Ganera: Nicolae Rotaru Sports Program High School of Constanţa, 900178 Constanța, Romania
Gabriel Dan Bărbuleț: Department of Physical Education, 1 Decembrie 1918 University of Alba Iulia, 510009 Alba Iulia, Romania
Michał Krzysztofik: Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
Adelina Elena Panaet: Doctoral School, National University of Physical Education and Sport Bucharest, 060057 Bucharest, Romania
Alina Ionela Cucui: Department of Physical Education and Sports, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130024 Targoviste, Romania
Dragoș Ioan Tohănean: Faculty of Physical Education and Mountain Sports, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania
Dan Iulian Alexe: Faculty of Movement, Sports and Health Sciences, VasileAlecsandri University of Bacău, 600115 Bacău, Romania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-11

Abstract: Altitude training increases haemoglobin, erythropoietin values among athletes, but may have negative physiological consequences. An alternative, although less explored, that has the potential to positively influence performance while avoiding some of the negative physiological consequences of hypoxia is sand training. Ten endurance-trained athletes (age: 20.8 ± 1.4, body mass: 57.7 ± 8.2 kg, stature: 176 ± 6 cm; 5000 m 14:55.00 ± 0:30 min) performed three 21-day training camps at different locations: at a high altitude (HIGH), at the sea-level (CTRL), at the sea-level on the sand (SAND). Differences in erythropoietin (EPO) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, body weight, VO 2max and maximal aerobic velocity (VMA) before and after each training cycle were compared. Data analysis has indicated that training during HIGH elicited a greater increase in VO 2max (2.4 ± 0.2%; p = 0.005 and 1.0 ± 0.2%; p < 0.001) and VMA (2.4 ± 0.2%, p < 0.001 and 1.2 ± 0.2%; p = 0.001) compared with CTRL and SAND. While increases in VO 2max and VMA following SAND were greater (1.3 ± 0.1%; p < 0.001 and 1.2 ± 0.1%; p < 0.001) than those observed after CTRL. Moreover, EPO increased to a greater extent following HIGH (25.3 ± 2.7%) compared with SAND (11.7 ± 1.6%, p = 0.008) and CTRL (0.1 ± 0.3%, p < 0.001) with a greater increase ( p < 0.01) following SAND compared with CTRL. Furthermore, HIGH and SAND elicited a greater increase (4.9 ± 0.9%; p = 0.001 and 3.3 ± 1.1%; p = 0.035) in Hb compared with CTRL. There was no difference in Hb changes observed between HIGH and SAND ( p = 1.0). Finally, athletes lost 2.1 ± 0.4% ( p = 0.001) more weight following HIGH vs. CTRL, while there were no differences in weight changes between HIGH vs. SAND ( p = 0.742) and SAND vs. CTRL ( p = 0.719). High-altitude training and sea-level training on sand resulted in significant improvements in EPO, Hb, VMA, and VO 2max that exceeded changes in such parameters following traditional sea-level training. While high-altitude training elicited greater relative increases in EPO, VMA, and VO 2max , sand training resulted in comparable increases in Hb and may prevent hypoxia-induced weight loss.

Keywords: altitude; haemoglobin; erythropoietin; hypoxia; endurance; sand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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