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Salbutamol effects on systemic potassium dynamics during and following intense continuous and intermittent exercise

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Abstract

Purpose

Salbutamol inhalation is permissible by WADA in athletic competition for asthma management and affects potassium regulation, which is vital for muscle function. Salbutamol effects on arterial potassium concentration ([K+]a) during and after high-intensity continuous exercise (HIcont) and intermittent exercise comprising repeated, brief sprints (HIint), and on performance during HIint are unknown and were investigated.

Methods

Seven recreationally active men participated in a double-blind, randomised, cross-over design, inhaling 1000 µg salbutamol or placebo. Participants cycled continuously for 5 min at 40 % \( {\dot{\text{V}}} \)O2peak and 60 % \( {\dot{\text{V}}} \)O2peak, then HIcont (90 s at 130 % \( {\dot{\text{V}}} \)O2peak), 20 min recovery, and then HIint (3 sets, 5 × 4 s sprints), with 30 min recovery.

Results

Plasma [K+]a increased throughout exercise and subsequently declined below baseline (P < 0.001). Plasma [K+]a was greater during HIcont than HIint (P < 0.001, HIcont 5.94 ± 0.65 vs HIint set 1, 4.71 ± 0.40 mM); the change in [K+]a from baseline (Δ[K+]a) was 2.6-fold greater during HIcont than HIint (P < 0.001). The Δ[K+] throughout the trial was less with salbutamol than placebo (P < 0.001, treatment main effect, 0.03 ± 0.67 vs 0.22 ± 0.69 mM, respectively); and remained less after correction for fluid shifts (P < 0.001). The Δ[K+] during HIcont was less after salbutamol (P < 0.05), but not during HIint. Blood lactate, plasma pH, and the work output during HIint did not differ between trials.

Conclusions

Inhaled salbutamol modulated the [K+]a rise across the trial, comprising intense continuous and intermittent exercise and recovery, lowering Δ[K+] during HIcont. The limited [K+]a changes during HIint suggest that salbutamol is unlikely to influence systemic [K+] during periods of intense effort in intermittent sports.

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Abbreviations

HIcont :

High-intensity continuous exercise

HIint :

High-intensity intermittent exercise

VO2peak :

Peak oxygen consumption

[K+]a :

Arterial potassium concentration

Δ[K+]a :

Change in [K+]a from baseline

[K+]v :

Venous plasma [K+]

ΔPVa :

Change in arterial plasma volume from rest

NKA:

Na+, K+-ATPase

WADA:

World Anti-Doping Agency

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Acknowledgments

We thank all participants for their contributions and Dr Tania Atanasovska, Mr Trevor Farr, Mr Bradley Gatt and Ms Jessica Meilak, who assisted in some trials. We acknowledge assistance by Ms Maria Loder from St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, in the use of salbutamol and sourcing the placebo propellant. Dr Aaron Petersen was part-funded through the Australian Government Collaborative Research Network Scheme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Clinical Exercise Science Research Program, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, VIC, 8001, Australia

    Muath M. Altarawneh, Aaron Petersen, Robert Smith, David M. Rouffet, Francois Billaut, Ben D. Perry, Victoria L. Wyckelsma & Michael J. McKenna

  2. Department of Anaesthesia, Western Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

    Robert Smith

  3. Département de Kinésiologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada

    Francois Billaut

  4. Intensive Care Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

    Antony Tobin

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  1. Muath M. Altarawneh
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  2. Aaron Petersen
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Correspondence to Michael J. McKenna.

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Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

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Altarawneh, M.M., Petersen, A., Smith, R. et al. Salbutamol effects on systemic potassium dynamics during and following intense continuous and intermittent exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 2389–2399 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3481-0

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