title: Effects of negative air ions on oxygen uptake kinetics, recovery and performance in exercise: a randomized, double-blinded study.
abstract: Limited research has suggested that acute exposure to negatively charged ions may enhance cardio-respiratory function, aerobic metabolism and recovery following exercise. To test the physiological effects of negatively charged air ions, 14 trained males (age: 32 ± 7 years; VO2max: 57 ± 7 mL min(-1) kg(-1)) were exposed for 20 min to either a high-concentration of air ions (ION: 220 ± 30 × 10(3) ions cm(-3)) or normal room conditions (PLA: 0.1 ± 0.06 × 10(3) ions cm(-3)) in an ionization chamber in a double-blinded, randomized order, prior to performing: (1) a bout of severe-intensity cycling exercise for determining the time constant of the phase II VO2 response (τ) and the magnitude of the VO2 slow component (SC); and (2) a 30-s Wingate test that was preceded by three 30-s Wingate tests to measure plasma [adrenaline] (ADR), [nor-adrenaline] (N-ADR) and blood [lactate] (B(Lac)) over 20 min during recovery in the ionization chamber. There was no difference between ION and PLA for the phase II VO2 τ (32 ± 14 s vs. 32 ± 14 s; P = 0.7) or VO2 SC (404 ± 214 mL vs 482 ± 217 mL; P = 0.17). No differences between ION and PLA were observed at any time-point for ADR, N-ADR and B(Lac) as well as on peak and mean power output during the Wingate tests (all P > 0.05). A high-concentration of negatively charged air ions had no effect on aerobic metabolism during severe-intensity exercise or on performance or the recovery of the adrenergic and metabolic responses after repeated-sprint exercise in trained athletes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sports Medicine and Science, Olympic Center, IMSB Austria, Johann Steinboeck Str. 5, 2344, Maria Enzersdorf, Austria, alfred.nimmerichter@fhwn.ac.at.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nimmerichter
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holdhaus
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mehnen
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vidotto
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loidl
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Barker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D000838:Anions / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D019344:Lactic Acid; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine