title: The effects of intermittent hypoxia training on hematological and aerobic performance in triathletes.
abstract: The aim of the present research was to analyze modifications on hematological and aerobic performance parameters after a 7-week intermittent hypoxia training (IHT) program. Eighteen male trained triathletes were divided in two groups: an intermittent hypoxia training group (IHTG: n: 9; 26.0 ± 6.7 years; 173.3 ± 5.9 cm; 66.4 ± 5.9 kg; VO₂max: 59.5 ± 5.0 ml/kg/min) that conducted a normoxic training plus an IHT and a control group (CG: n: 9; 29.3 ± 6.8 years; 174.9 ± 4.6 cm; 59.7 ± 6.8 kg; VO₂max: 58.9 ± 4.5 ml/kg/min) that performed only a normoxic training. Training process was standardized across the two groups. The IHT program consisted of two 60-min sessions per week at intensities over the anaerobic threshold and atmospheric conditions between 14.5 and 15% FiO₂. Before and after the 7-week training, aerobic performance in an incremental running test and hematological parameters were analyzed. After this training program, the IHTG showed higher hemoglobin and erythrocytes (p < 0.05) values than in the CG. In terms of physiological and performance variables, between the two groups no changes were found. The addition of an IHT program to normoxic training caused an improvement in hematological parameters but aerobic performance and physiological variables compared to similar training under normoxic conditions did not increase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Sport Science Faculty, Catholic University of Murcia , Los Jerónimos Road 135, Guadalupe 30107, Murcia , Spain.|Laboratory of Physical Performance and Readaptation Injuries , Toledo , Spain.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ramos-Campo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Performance and Readaptation Injuries , Toledo , Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martínez-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Performance and Readaptation Injuries , Toledo , Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Esteban-García
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Activity and Sport Science, Sport Science Faculty, Catholic University of Murcia , Los Jerónimos Road 135, Guadalupe 30107, Murcia , Spain.|Laboratory of Physical Performance and Readaptation Injuries , Toledo , Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rubio-Arias
authors.affiliation: Department of Motricity, Human Performance and Sport Management, European University of Madrid , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Clemente-Suarez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physical Performance and Readaptation Injuries , Toledo , Spain.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Díaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001272:Atmosphere; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D008297:Male; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: erythropoiesis; hematocrit; intermittent hypoxic training (IHT); maximal oxygen uptake; triathlon