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The contribution of haemoglobin mass to increases in cycling performance induced by simulated LHTL

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Abstract

We sought to determine whether improved cycling performance following ‘Live High-Train Low’ (LHTL) occurs if increases in haemoglobin mass (Hbmass) are prevented via periodic phlebotomy during hypoxic exposure. Eleven, highly trained, female cyclists completed 26 nights of simulated LHTL (16 h day−1, 3000 m). Hbmass was determined in quadruplicate before LHTL and in duplicate weekly thereafter. After 14 nights, cyclists were pair-matched, based on their Hbmass response (ΔHbmass) from baseline, to form a response group (Response, n = 5) in which Hbmass was free to adapt, and a Clamp group (Clamp, n = 6) in which ΔHbmass was negated via weekly phlebotomy. All cyclists were blinded to the blood volume removed. Cycling performance was assessed in duplicate before and after LHTL using a maximal 4-min effort (MMP4min) followed by a ride time to exhaustion test at peak power output (T lim). VO2peak was established during the MMP4min. Following LHTL, Hbmass increased in Response (mean ± SD, 5.5 ± 2.9%). Due to repeated phlebotomy, there was no ΔHbmass in Clamp (−0.4 ± 0.6%). VO2peak increased in Response (3.5 ± 2.3%) but not in Clamp (0.3 ± 2.6%). MMP4min improved in both the groups (Response 4.5 ± 1.1%, Clamp 3.6 ± 1.4%) and was not different between groups (p = 0.58). T lim increased only in Response, with Clamp substantially worse than Response (−37.6%; 90% CL −58.9 to −5.0, p = 0.07). Our novel findings, showing an ~4% increase in MMP4min despite blocking an ~5% increase in Hbmass, suggest that accelerated erythropoiesis is not the sole mechanism by which LHTL improves performance. However, increases in Hbmass appear to influence the aerobic contribution to high-intensity exercise which may be important for subsequent high-intensity efforts.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the work and support of the staff and students of the AIS Physiology Department, particularly the work of Marilyn Dickson, Nicole Thomas, and Jamie Plowman. The authors would also like to thank Amanda Spratt, Dave McPartland and Beth Duryea for their valuable assistance in the conduct of the study and the riders for their efforts during training and testing. This study was funded by a General and Collaborative Research Grant awarded by the Performance Research Centre at the Australian Institute of Sport. Grants and financial support were received from Applied Research Centre at the Australian Institute of Sport and the University Hospital of Freiburg.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Science Sports Medicine, Australian Institute of Sport, PO Box 176, Belconnen, Canberra, ACT, 2616, Australia

    Laura A. Garvican, David T. Martin, Martin Barras & Christopher J. Gore

  2. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia

    Laura A. Garvican & Christopher J. Gore

  3. Department of Sports Medicine, University Hospital of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Torben Pottgiesser & Yorck Olaf Schumacher

Authors
  1. Laura A. Garvican
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  2. Torben Pottgiesser
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  3. David T. Martin
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  4. Yorck Olaf Schumacher
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  5. Martin Barras
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  6. Christopher J. Gore
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Correspondence to Laura A. Garvican.

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Communicated by Susan Ward.

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Garvican, L.A., Pottgiesser, T., Martin, D.T. et al. The contribution of haemoglobin mass to increases in cycling performance induced by simulated LHTL. Eur J Appl Physiol 111, 1089–1101 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1732-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1732-z

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