Abstract
Purpose
Previous work suggests that endurance-trained athletes have superior pulmonary vasculature function as compared to untrained individuals, which may contribute to their greater maximal oxygen uptake (\(\dot{\text{V}}\)O2max). Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) reduces pulmonary vascular resistance in healthy individuals, which could translate into greater cardiac output and improved \(\dot{\text{V}}\)O2max, particularly in untrained individuals. The purpose of the study was to examine whether iNO improved \(\dot{\text{V}}\)O2max in endurance trained and untrained individuals.
Methods
Sixteen endurance-trained and sixteen untrained individuals with normal lung function completed this randomized double-blind cross-over study over four sessions. Experimental cardiopulmonary exercise tests were completed while breathing either normoxia (placebo) or 40 ppm of iNO, on separate days (order randomized). On an additional day, echocardiography was used to determine pulmonary artery systolic pressure at rest and during sub-maximal exercise (60 Watts) while participants breathed normoxia or iNO.
Results
Right ventricular systolic pressure was significantly reduced by iNO during exercise (Placebo: 34 ± 7 vs. iNO: 32 ± 7; p = 0.04). \(\dot{\text{V}}\)O2max was greater in the endurance trained group (Untrained: 3.1 ± 0.7 vs. Endurance: 4.3 ± 0.9 L min−1; p < 0.01), however, there was no effect of condition (p = 0.79) and no group by condition interaction (p = 0.68). Peak cardiac output was also unchanged by iNO in either group.
Conclusion
Despite a reduction in right ventricular systolic pressure, the lack of change in \(\dot{\text{V}}\)O2max with iNO suggests that the pulmonary vasculature does not limit \(\dot{\text{V}}\)O2max in young healthy individuals, regardless of fitness level.
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Availability of data and materials
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.
Code availability
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Abbreviations
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- CPET:
-
Cardiopulmonary exercise test
- DLCO :
-
Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide
- D M :
-
Membrane diffusing capacity
- EDA:
-
End-diastolic area
- EDV:
-
End-diastolic volume
- EF:
-
Ejection fraction
- ESA:
-
End-systolic area
- ESV:
-
End-systolic volume
- FAC:
-
Fractional area change
- iNO:
-
Inhaled nitric oxide
- IVC:
-
Inferior vena cava
- LV:
-
Left ventricle
- MET-Hb:
-
Methemoglobin
- RAP:
-
Right atrial pressure
- RV:
-
Right ventricle
- RVSP:
-
Right ventricular systolic pressure
- SpO2 :
-
Arterial oxygen saturation
- TAPSE:
-
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion
- \(\dot{\text{V}}\)̇E/\(\dot{\text{V}}\)CO2 :
-
Ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide production
- \(\dot{\text{V}}\) C :
-
Capillary blood lung volume
- \(\dot{\text{V}}\)O2max :
-
Maximal oxygen consumption
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The authors would like to acknowledge all participants for taking part in the study. Without their involvement and willingness to participate, the study would not have been possible.
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This study was partly funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research.
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Conceptualization and methodology: AB, DP, SD, RB, MS; formal analysis and investigation: AB, DP, RB, VM, BR, DF; writing—original draft preparation: AB, DP, MS; writing—review and editing: AB, DP, VM, BR, RB, DF, SD, MS; Funding acquisition: MS and supervision: SD, MS.
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This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of University of Alberta Health Research Ethics Board (Biomedical Panel: Pro00078715).
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Communicated by I. Mark Olfert.
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Brotto, A.R., Phillips, D.B., Meah, V.L. et al. Inhaled nitric oxide does not improve maximal oxygen consumption in endurance trained and untrained healthy individuals. Eur J Appl Physiol 122, 703–715 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04866-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04866-3