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Pre-exposure to hyperoxic air does not enhance power output during subsequent sprint cycling

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Abstract

Previous studies have indicated that aerobic pathways contribute to 13–27% of the energy consumed during short-term (10–20 s) sprinting exercise. Accordingly, the present investigation was designed to test the hypothesis that prior breathing of oxygen-enriched air (FinO2 = 60%) would enhance power output and reduce fatigue during subsequent sprint cycling. Ten well-trained male cyclists (mean ± SD age, 25 ± 3 years; height, 186.1 ± 6.9 cm; body mass, 79.1 ± 8.2 kg; maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max]: 63.2 ± 5.2 ml kg−1 min−1) took 25 breaths of either hyperoxic (HO) or normoxic (NO) air before performing 15 s of cycling at maximal exertion. During this performance, the maximal and mean power outputs were recorded. The concentration of lactate, pH, partial pressure of and saturation by oxygen, [H+] and base excess in arterial blood were assessed before and after the sprint. The maximal (1,053 ± 141 for HO vs. 1,052 ± 165 W for NO; P = 0.77) and mean power outputs (873 ± 123 vs. 876 ± 147 W; P = 0.68) did not differ between the two conditions. The partial pressure of oxygen was approximately 2.3-fold higher after inhaling HO in comparison to NO, while lactate concentration, pH, [H+] and base excess (best P = 0.32) after sprinting were not influenced by exposure to HO. These findings demonstrate that the peak and mean power outputs of athletes performing short-term intense exercise cannot be improved by pre-exposure to oxygen-enriched air.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Training Science and Sport Informatics, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Billy Sperlich, Silvia Achtzehn & Joachim Mester

  2. Outpatient Clinic for Sports Traumatology and Public Health Consultation, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Thorsten Schiffer

  3. German Research Centre of Elite Sport, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Silvia Achtzehn & Joachim Mester

  4. Department of Health Sciences, Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Mid Sweden University, 83125, Östersund, Sweden

    Hans-Christer Holmberg

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  1. Billy Sperlich
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  2. Thorsten Schiffer
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  3. Silvia Achtzehn
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  4. Joachim Mester
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  5. Hans-Christer Holmberg
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Correspondence to Billy Sperlich.

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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Sperlich, B., Schiffer, T., Achtzehn, S. et al. Pre-exposure to hyperoxic air does not enhance power output during subsequent sprint cycling. Eur J Appl Physiol 110, 301–305 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1507-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1507-6

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