Changes in blood gas transport of altitude native soccer players near sea-level and sea-level native soccer players at altitude (ISA3600)
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2013
Authors
Wachsmuth, N.
Kley, M.
Spielvogel, H.
Aughey, R.J.
Gore, C.J.
Bourdon, P.J.
Hammond, K.
Sargent, C.
Roach, G.D.
Sanchez, R.S.
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British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2013; 47(SUPPL. 1):i93-i99
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Objectives: The optimal strategy for soccer teams playing at altitude is not known, that is, 'fly-in, fly-out'versus short-term acclimatisation. Here, we document changes in blood gas and vascular volumes of sea-level (Australian, n=20) and altitude (Bolivian, n=19) native soccer players at 3600 m. Methods: Haemoglobin-oxygen saturation (Hb-sO2),arterial oxygen content (CaO2), haemoglobin mass(Hbmass), blood volume (BV) and blood gas concentrations were measured before descent (Bolivians only), together with aerobic fitness (via Yo-YoIR1), nearsea-level, after ascent and during 13 days at 3600 m.
Results: At baseline, haemoglobin concentration [Hb] and Hbmass were higher in Bolivians (mean±SD; 18.2±1.0 g/dL, 12.8±0.8 g/kg) than Australians (15.0±0.9 g/dL, 11.6±0.7 g/kg; both p≤0.001). Near sea-level, [Hb] of Bolivians decreased to 16.6±0.9 g/dL, but normalised upon return to 3600 m; Hbmass was constant regardless of altitude. In Australians, [Hb] increased after 12 days at 3600 m to 17.3±1.0 g/dL; Hbmass increased by 3.0±2.7% (p≤0.01). BV decreased in both teams at altitude by ∼400 mL. Arterial partial pressure for oxygen (PaO2),Hb-sO2 and CaO2 of both teams decreased within 2 h of arrival at 3600 m (p≤0.001) but increased over the following days, with CaO2 overcompensated in Australians (+1.7±1.2 mL/100 mL; p≤0.001). Yo-YoIR1 was lower on the 3rd versus 10th day at altitude and was significantly related to CaO2.
Conclusions: The marked drop in PaO2 and CaO2 observed after ascent does not support the 'fly-in, fly-out'approach for soccer teams to play immediately after arrival at altitude. Although short-term acclimatisation was sufficient for Australians to stabilise their CaO2 (mostly due to loss of plasma volume), 12 days appears insufficient to reach chronic levels of adaption.
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Copyright 2013 The Authors. This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 3.0). (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/)