Abstract
BackgroundSome endurance athletes exhibit exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia during high-intensity exercise. Inhalation of hyperoxic gas during exercise has been shown to counteract this exercise-associated reduction in hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2), but the effects of hyperoxic gas inhalation on performance and SaO2 during high-intensity intermittent exercise remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of hyperoxic gas inhalation on performance and SaO2 during high-intensity intermittent cycling exercise.MethodsEight male cyclists performed identical intermittent exercise tests (five sets of 3-min high-intensity cycling alternated with 3-min active recovery periods) under two different inspired air conditions, hyperoxia (HO; FiO2 = 0.36) and normoxia (NO; FiO2 = 0.21). The fifth set of each test was terminated at exhaustion, and the exercise time to exhaustion was recorded. Variables associated with arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured using an ear pulse oximeter.ResultsTime to exhaustion under HO conditions was significantly longer than under NO conditions (34.9 ± 4.6 vs. 30.0 ± 2.5 min, P = 0.004, ES = 1.32). SpO2 was maintained under HO conditions but decreased under NO conditions.ConclusionsHyperoxic gas inhalation during the entire high-intensity intermittent exercise enhanced exercise performance in male cyclists.
Highlights
Some endurance athletes exhibit exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia during high-intensity exercise
Nummela et al [21] reported that inhalation of hyperoxic gas (fraction of inspiratory oxygen (FIO2) = 0.40) during an entire session of high-intensity intermittent exercise consisting of three sets of 300 m of running at different speeds on a treadmill, prevented Hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO2) levels from decreasing
One previous study examined the effects of inhaling hyperoxic gas during the rest periods between high-intensity intermittent exercise sessions lasting more than 3 min on performance and SaO2 [22]; this study revealed that the SaO2 recovery time was significantly shorter under hyperoxic (FIO2 = 0.99) than under normoxic conditions
Summary
Some endurance athletes exhibit exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia during high-intensity exercise. This study investigated the effects of hyperoxic gas inhalation on performance and SaO2 during high-intensity intermittent cycling exercise. High-intensity intermittent exercises are frequently used in training programs to improve physiological responses, such as maximizing the activities of mitochondrial enzymes [14], reducing glycogen utilization and lactate accumulation during matched-work exercise [3, 5, 12], and improving sports performance [8, 9]. One previous study examined the effects of inhaling hyperoxic gas during the rest periods between high-intensity intermittent exercise sessions lasting more than 3 min on performance and SaO2 [22]; this study revealed that the SaO2 recovery time was significantly shorter under hyperoxic (FIO2 = 0.99) than under normoxic conditions. The actual performance and SaO2 effects of inhaling hyperoxic gas during high-intensity intermittent exercise remain unclear
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