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Brain oxygenation declines in elite Kenyan runners during a maximal interval training session

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to characterise the cerebral oxygenation (Cox) response during a high-intensity interval training session in Kenyan runners, and to examine any relationship with running performance.

Methods

15 Kenyan runners completed a 5-km time trial (TT) and a Fatigue Training Test on a treadmill (repeated running bouts of 1-km at a pace 5% faster than their mean 5-km TT pace with a 30-s recovery until exhaustion). Changes in Cox were monitored via near-infrared spectroscopy through concentration changes in oxy- and deoxy-haemoglobin (Δ[O2Hb] and Δ[HHb]), tissue oxygenation index (TOI), and total hemoglobin index (nTHI).

Results

The number of 1-km repetitions achieved by the participants was 5.5 ± 1.2 repetitions at a mean pace of 20.5 ± 0.7 km h−1. Δ[O2Hb] measured at the end of each running repetition declined progressively over the course of the trial (p = 0.01, ES = 4.59). Δ[HHb] increased during each running bout until the end of the Fatigue Training Test (p < 0.001; ES = 6.0). TOI decreased significantly from the beginning of the test (p = 0.013, ES = 1.83), whereas nTHI remained stable (ES = 0.08). The Cox decline in the Fatigue Training Test was negatively correlated with the speed at which the test was completed (p = 0.017; r = −0.61), suggesting that the best performers were able to defend their Cox better than those of lower running ability.

Conclusions

In conclusion, this study suggests that elite Kenyan runners cannot defend cerebral oxygenation when forced to exercise to their physiological limits. This emphasises the critical importance of pacing in their racing success.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

Cox:

Cerebral oxygenation

CV:

Coefficient of variation

ES:

Effect size

fNIRS:

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy

HIIT:

High-intensity interval training

HR:

Heart rate

n :

Participant number

nTHI:

Total hemoglobin index

PaCO2 :

CO2 partial pressure

SD:

Standard deviation

SpO2 :

Arterial oxygen saturation

TOI:

Tissue oxygenation index

TT:

Time trial

VO2max :

Maximum oxygen uptake

Δ[HHb]:

Deoxy-haemoglobin changes

Δ[O2Hb]:

Oxy-hemoglobin changes

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a National Research Foundation Grant (CPR20110704000020012) and by a Faculty of Health Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (University of Cape Town) to J. Santos-Concejero.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Portal de Lasarte 71, 01007, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

    Jordan Santos-Concejero

  2. UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Jordan Santos-Concejero, T. D. Noakes & R. Tucker

  3. Department of Kinesiology, University Laval, Quebec, Canada

    F. Billaut

  4. Department of Sport Science, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    L. Grobler

  5. Department of Physiology, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    J. Oliván

  6. School of Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

    R. Tucker

Authors
  1. Jordan Santos-Concejero
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  2. F. Billaut
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  3. L. Grobler
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  4. J. Oliván
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  5. T. D. Noakes
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  6. R. Tucker
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Correspondence to Jordan Santos-Concejero.

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The authors report no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Peter Krustrup.

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Santos-Concejero, J., Billaut, F., Grobler, L. et al. Brain oxygenation declines in elite Kenyan runners during a maximal interval training session. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 1017–1024 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3590-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3590-4

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