Effects of three weeks base training at moderate simulated altitude with or without hypoxic residence on exercise capacity and physiological adaptations in well-trained male runners

Longyan Yi; Jian Wu; Bing Yan; Yang Wang; Menghui Zou; Yimin Zhang; Feifei Li; Junqiang Qiu; Olivier Girard

doi:10.7717/peerj.17166

Effects of three weeks base training at moderate simulated altitude with or without hypoxic residence on exercise capacity and physiological adaptations in well-trained male runners

PeerJ. 2024 Mar 29:12:e17166. doi: 10.7717/peerj.17166. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Longyan Yi¹, Jian Wu², Bing Yan¹, Yang Wang¹, Menghui Zou³, Yimin Zhang^{1

4}, Feifei Li⁵, Junqiang Qiu⁶, Olivier Girard⁷

Affiliations

¹ China Institute of Sport and Health Sciences, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
² School of Kinesiology and Health, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
³ China Athletics School, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Exercise and Physical Fitness (Beijing Sport University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
⁵ Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Beijing, China.
⁶ Department of Exercise Biochemistry, Exercise Science School, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.
⁷ School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia.

Abstract

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that 'live high-base train high-interval train low' (HiHiLo) altitude training, compared to 'live low-train high' (LoHi), yields greater benefits on performance and physiological adaptations.

Methods: Sixteen young male middle-distance runners (age, 17.0 ± 1.5 y; body mass, 58.8 ± 4.9 kg; body height, 176.3 ± 4.3 cm; training years, 3-5 y; training distance per week, 30-60 km.wk^-1) with a peak oxygen uptake averaging ~65 ml.min^-1.kg^-1 trained in a normobaric hypoxia chamber (simulated altitude of ~2,500 m, monitored by heart rate ~170 bpm; thrice weekly) for 3 weeks. During this period, the HiHiLo group (n = 8) stayed in normobaric hypoxia (at ~2,800 m; 10 h.day^-1), while the LoHi group (n = 8) resided near sea level. Before and immediately after the intervention, peak oxygen uptake and exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia responses (incremental cycle test) as well as running performance and time-domain heart rate variability (5-km time trial) were assessed. Hematological variables were monitored at baseline and on days 1, 7, 14 and 21 during the intervention.

Results: Peak oxygen uptake and running performance did not differ before and after the intervention in either group (all P > 0.05). Exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia responses, measured both at submaximal (240 W) and maximal loads during the incremental test, and log-transformed root mean square of successive R-R intervals during the 4-min post-run recovery period, did not change (all P > 0.05). Hematocrit, mean reticulocyte absolute count and reticulocyte percentage increased above baseline levels on day 21 of the intervention (all P < 0.001), irrespective of group.

Conclusions: Well-trained runners undertaking base training at moderate simulated altitude for 3 weeks, with or without hypoxic residence, showed no performance improvement, also with unchanged time-domain heart rate variability and exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia responses.

Keywords: Altitude training; Arterial oxygen saturation; Chronic hypoxia; Heart rate variability; Maximal oxygen uptake; Runners.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Physiological
Adolescent
Altitude*
Exercise Tolerance*
Humans
Hypoxia
Male
Oxygen
Oxygen Consumption / physiology

Substances

Oxygen

Grants and funding

This research received funding from China Institute of Sport and Health Sciences, Beijing Sport University and Beijing Hundred Thousand Talents Project (2019A15). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.