title: Total hemoglobin mass and blood volume of elite Kenyan runners.
abstract: Several East Africans are among the most successful runners worldwide. The physiological reasons underlying this superiority are, however, not yet known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the total hemoglobin mass (tHb-mass) and blood volume (BV) of Kenyan runners and their adaptation to near sea level.
  
  
  METHODS
  tHb-mass, BV, and VO2max were determined in 10 male Kenyan runners (10-km best time = 28:29 ± 00:27 min) residing at an altitude of 2090 m over the course of a 6-wk training camp at sea level. Their values were compared with those of elite German runners (10-km best time = 30:39 ± 00:24 min).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kenyans are characterized by significantly lower body mass (Kenyans = 57.2 ± 7.0 kg; Germans = 66.5 ± 6.3 kg) and body mass index (Kenyans = 18.5 ± 0.9; Germans = 20.4 ± 0.9). Relative tHb-mass (Kenyans = 14.2 ± 1.0 g·kg(-1); Germans = 14.0 ± 0.7 g·kg(-1)) and BV (Kenyans = 101.9 ± 4.5 mL·kg(-1); Germans = 99.6 ± 5.8 mL·kg(-1)) were similar in both groups but were decreased in Kenyans during the stay at near sea level (absolute tHb-mass from 813 ± 90 g·mL(-1) to 767 ± 90 g, P < 0.001; BV from 5828 ± 703 g·mL(-1) to 5513 ± 708 mL, P < 0.01). Relative VO2max was similar in both groups (Kenyans 71.5 ± 5.0 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1); Germans 70.7 ± 3.7 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The oxygen transport of the blood cannot explain the superior endurance performance of Kenyan runners. Most measured parameters are in the same range as those of elite German runners, and tHb-mass even deteriorates after an adaptation to near sea level.
authors: Department of Sports Medicine and Sports Physiology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany. Nicole.Prommer@uni-bayreuth.de
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Prommer
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Thoma
authors: Lennart
authors: L
authors: Quecke
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Gutekunst
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Völzke
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: Wachsmuth
authors: Andreas Michael
authors: AM
authors: Niess
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000531:Altitude; D056352:Athletes; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood; D005858:Germany; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin