Abstract
In order to quantify the seasonal variability of haemoglobin mass (Hbmass) in cyclists during a competitive season, and investigate whether variability is associated with changes in training load or performance, Hbmass was measured in 10 internationally competitive female road cyclists approximately once per month for 2–10 months via CO-rebreathing. Power meters were used to quantify daily load (Training Stress Scores) during training and racing, from which cumulative training load units for 7, 14, 28 and 42 day were calculated. Maximal mean power (MMP) for 1, 4, 10 and 25 min, performed during training or racing was used as a surrogate for performance. The relationship between changes in training load (%ΔTraining) and changes in Hbmass (%ΔHbmass), and between %ΔHbmass and changes in MMP (%ΔMMP) was established via regression analysis. Individual coefficients of variation (CV) in Hbmass ranged from 2.0 to 4.4%. The weighted mean CV in Hbmass was 3.3% (90% Confidence Limits: 2.9–3.8%) or 23 g over the average 6.6 ± 2.3 month monitoring period. The effect of %ΔTraining on %ΔHbmass was small for 7 and 14 day (r = 0.22 and 0.29), moderate for 42 day (r = 0.35) and large for 28 day (r = 0.56). The regression slope was greatest for 42 day, with a 10% change in training associated with a ~1% change in Hbmass. The relationship between %ΔHbmass and %ΔMMP was ~0.5:1 for MMP1min,10min and 25min and ~1:1 for MMP4min, respectively. Hbmass varies by ~3% in female cyclists during a competitive season. Some of the variation may be related to oscillations in chronic training load.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allen H, Coggan A (2006) Training and racing with a power meter. Velo Press, Boulder
Ashenden MJ, Gore CJ et al (1999) “Live high, train low” does not change the total haemoglobin mass of male endurance athletes sleeping at a simulated altitude of 3000 m for 23 nights. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 80(5):479–484
Banister EW, Calvert TW (1980) Planning for future performance: implications for long term training. Can J Appl Sport Sci 5(3):170–176
Brugniaux JV, Schmitt L et al (2006) Eighteen days of “living high, training low” stimulate erythropoiesis and enhance aerobic performance in elite middle-distance runners. J Appl Physiol 100(1):203–211
Burge CM, Skinner SL (1995) Determination of hemoglobin mass and blood volume with CO: evaluation and application of a method. J Appl Physiol 79(2):623–631
Busso T (2003) Variable dose-response relationship between exercise training and performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 35(7):1188–1195
Eastwood A, Hopkins WG et al (2008) Stability of hemoglobin mass over 100 days in active men. J Appl Physiol 104(4):982–985
Ebert TR, Martin DT et al (2005) Power output during women’s World Cup road cycle racing. Eur J Appl Physiol 95(5–6):529–536
Fraser IS, Warner P et al (2001) Estimating menstrual blood loss in women with normal and excessive menstrual fluid volume. Obstet Gynecol 98(5 Pt 1):806–814
Gardner AS, Stephens S et al (2004) Accuracy of SRM and power tap power monitoring systems for bicycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc 36(7):1252–1258
Gore CJ, Hopkins WG (2005) Counterpoint: positive effects of intermittent hypoxia (live high:train low) on exercise performance are not mediated primarily by augmented red cell volume. J Appl Physiol 99(5):2055–2057 (discussion 2057–2058)
Gore CJ, Hahn A et al (1998) Altitude training at 2690 m does not increase total haemoglobin mass or sea level VO2max in world champion track cyclists. J Sci Med Sport 1(3):156–170
Gore CJ, Hopkins WG et al (2005) Errors of measurement for blood volume parameters: a meta-analysis. J Appl Physiol 99(5):1745–1758
Gore CJ, Rodriguez FA et al (2006) Increased serum erythropoietin but not red cell production after 4 wk of intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (4,000–5,500 m). J Appl Physiol 101(5):1386–1393
Hawley JA, Stepto NK (2001) Adaptations to training in endurance cyclists: implications for performance. Sports Med 31(7):511–520
Heinicke K, Heinicke I et al (2005) A three-week traditional altitude training increases hemoglobin mass and red cell volume in elite biathlon athletes. Int J Sports Med 26(5):350–355
Hopkins WG, Marshall SW et al (2009) Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41(1):3–13
Kanstrup IL, Ekblom B (1984) Blood volume and hemoglobin concentration as determinants of maximal aerobic power. Med Sci Sports Exerc 16(3):256–262
Lee H, Martin DT et al (2002) Physiological characteristics of successful mountain bikers and professional road cyclists. J Sports Sci 20(12):1001–1008
Levine BD, Stray-Gundersen J (1997) “Living high-training low”: effect of moderate-altitude acclimatization with low-altitude training on performance. J Appl Physiol 83(1):102–112
Levine BD, Stray-Gundersen J (2005) Point: positive effects of intermittent hypoxia (live high:train low) on exercise performance are mediated primarily by augmented red cell volume. J Appl Physiol 99(5):2053–2055
Malcovati L, Pascutto C et al (2003) Hematologic passport for athletes competing in endurance sports: a feasibility study. Haematologica 88(5):570–581
Parisotto R, Gore CJ et al (2000) A novel method utilising markers of altered erythropoiesis for the detection of recombinant human erythropoietin abuse in athletes. Haematologica 85(6):564–572
Paton CD, Hopkins WG (2005) Seasonal changes in power of competitive cyclists: implications for monitoring performance. J Sci Med Sport 8(4):375–381
Prommer N, Schmidt W (2007) Loss of CO from the intravascular bed and its impact on the optimised CO-rebreathing method. Eur J Appl Physiol 100(4):383–391
Prommer N, Heckle A et al (2007) Timeframe to detect blood withdrawal associated with autologous blood doping. Med Sci Sports Exerc 39(Suppl 5):S3
Prommer N, Sottas PE et al (2008) Total hemoglobin mass: a new parameter to detect blood doping? Med Sci Sports Exerc 40(12):2112–2118
Sawka MN, Muza SR et al (2009) Erythrocyte volume expansion and human performance. In: Fourcroy JL (ed) Pharmacology, doping and sports: a scientific guide for athletes, coaches, physicians, scientists and administrators. Routledge, New York, pp 125–134
Schmidt W, Prommer N (2005) The optimised CO-rebreathing method: a new tool to determine total haemoglobin mass routinely. Eur J Appl Physiol 95(5–6):486–495
Schmidt W, Prommer N (2008) Effects of various training modalities on blood volume. Scand J Med Sci Sports 18(Suppl 1):57–69
Schumacher YO, Ahlgrim C et al (2008a) Hemoglobin mass in an elite endurance athlete before, during, and after injury-related immobility. Clin J Sport Med 18(2):172–173
Schumacher YO, Pottgiesser T et al (2008b) Haemoglobin mass in cyclists during stage racing. Int J Sports Med 29(5):372–378
Wagner PD (1996) Determinants of maximal oxygen transport and utilization. Annu Rev Physiol 58:21–50
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the staff and students of the Physiology Department at the Australian Institute of Sport and Mapei Sports Services for their assistance with testing and equipment as well as the athlete’s for their cooperation during testing. Special thanks to Marilyn Dickson and Elsa Lepore for all their assistance with logistics, to Aldo Sassi for the use of his laboratory in Italy, and to Wayne Nichols and James Nitis for keeping the SRMs functional. The statistical advice of Professor Will Hopkins is gratefully acknowledged. This research was financially supported by Flinders University and Cycling Australia’s High Performance Cycling program. The experiments in this article comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed.
Conflicts of interest statement
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by Susan Ward.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Garvican, L.A., Martin, D.T., McDonald, W. et al. Seasonal variation of haemoglobin mass in internationally competitive female road cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 221–231 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1349-2
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1349-2