title: "Live High-Train High" increases hemoglobin mass in Olympic swimmers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study tested whether 3-4 weeks of classical "Live High-Train High" (LHTH) altitude training increases swim-specific VO2max through increased hemoglobin mass (Hbmass).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten swimmers lived and trained for more than 3 weeks between 2,130 and 3,094 m of altitude, and a control group of ten swimmers followed the same training at sea-level (SL). Body composition was examined using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Hbmass was determined by carbon monoxide rebreathing. Swimming VO2peak was determined and swimming trials of 4 × 50, 200 and 3,000 m were performed before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hbmass (n = 10) was increased (P < 0.05)after altitude training by 6.2 ± 3.9 % in the LHTH group, whereas no changes were apparent in the SL group (n = 10). Swimming VO2peak was similar before and after training camps in both groups (LHTH: n = 7, SL: n = 6). Performance of 4 × 50 m at race pace was improved to a similar degree in both groups (LHTH: n = 10, SL: n = 10). Maximal speed reached in an incremental swimming step test (P = 0.051), and time to complete 3,000 m tended (P = 0.09) to be more improved after LHTH (n = 10) than SL training (n = 10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, 3-4 weeks of classical LHTH is sufficient to increase Hbmass but exerts no effect on swimming-specific VO2peak. LHTH may improve performance more than SL training.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas Christian
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Bonne
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lundby
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Monija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mrgan
authors.forename: Signe Refsgaard
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papoti
authors.forename: Nikolai Baastrup
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Nordsborg
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000064:Acclimatization; D000293:Adolescent; D000531:Altitude; D054874:Athletic Performance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition; D001944:Breath Tests; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000379:methods*; D013550:Swimming; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins