Total hemoglobin mass and blood volume of elite Kenyan runners.
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.
Prommer
Nicole
N
Department of Sports Medicine and Sports Physiology, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany. Nicole.Prommer@uni-bayreuth.de
Thoma
Stefanie
S
Quecke
Lennart
L
Gutekunst
Thomas
T
Völzke
Christian
C
Wachsmuth
Nadine
N
Niess
Andreas Michael
AM
Schmidt
Walter
W
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*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin