O2 arterial desaturation in endurance athletes increases muscle deoxygenation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the muscle deoxygenation measured by near infrared spectroscopy in endurance athletes who presented or not with exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH) during a maximal incremental test in normoxic conditions.


METHODS
Nineteen male endurance sportsmen performed an incremental test on a cycle ergometer to determine maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and the corresponding power output (P(max)). Arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) was measured noninvasively with a pulse oxymeter at the earlobe to detect EIH, which was defined as a drop in SaO2 > 4% between rest and the end of the exercise. Muscle deoxygenation of the right vastus lateralis was monitored by near infrared spectroscopy and was expressed in percentage according to the ischemia-hyperemia scale.


RESULTS
Ten athletes exhibited arterial hypoxemia (EIH group) and the nine others were nonhypoxemic (NEIH group). Training volume, competition level, VO2max, Pmax, and lactate concentration were similar in the two groups. Nevertheless, muscle deoxygenation at the end of the exercise was significantly greater in the EIH group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Greater muscle deoxygenation at maximal exercise in hypoxemic athletes seems to be due, at least in part, to reduced oxygen delivery--that is, exercise-induced hypoxemia--to working muscle added to the metabolic demand. In addition, our finding is also consistent with the hypothesis of greater muscle oxygen extraction in order to counteract reduced O2 availability.
Legrand
Renaud
R
Laboratory of Multidisciplinary Analysis of Physical Activity, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Artois, Liévin, France.
Ahmaidi
Saïd
S
Moalla
Wassim
W
Chocquet
Dominique
D
Marles
Alexandre
A
Prieur
Fabrice
F
Mucci
Patrick
P
D016552:Ergometry; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
D010100:Oxygen