Relationship between total hemoglobin mass and competitive performance in endurance athletes

The pregnant diabetic at or near term, in the absence of clinical metabolic disorder, ordinarily exhibits only minor differences from normal pregnant women in regard to pH, content of gases, and concentration of hemoglobin in blood and concentration of electrolytes in plasma. The diabetic in labor is likely to evidence signs of metabolic acidosis which is only partially compensated. The fetus of the diabetic, on the other hand, is frequently found to have marked changes in pH, pCO2 and oxygen saturation of the blood. There is a small decrease in total concentration of electrolytes, which is apparently related to dilution of the blood. Concentration of hemoglobin is slightly increased, but if dilution is taken into consideration, this probably represents a significant increase in total hemoglobin mass. The variability of several components of the blood is greater than in normal fetuses. The changes in pH and pCO2 are sufficient, in their effect on dissociation of oxyhemoglobin, to account for the mean decrease in saturation observed in the fetuses of diabetics without any change in pO2. The average fetus, therefore, cannot properly be said to be hypoxic. However, individual fetuses are observed with very marked reductions in oxygen saturation which undoubtedly reflect true hypoxia. Biochemical alterations in these fetuses are out of proportion to maternal changes but, once proper pulmonary ventilation is established, can be readily reversed. It appears from this that the lesion is likely to be placental rather than maternal or fetal. Biochemical deviations from normal in the present series are only irregularly related to neonatal difficulty. The two infants who died in the present study were the only prematures, and only one manifested severe and disproportional changes. The biochemical changes observed do not per se appear to be sufficient to account for the known neonatal difficulties of the infants of diabetic mothers, but, in aggravated form, might account for fetal death.

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Does Arterial Oxyhemoglobin Saturation Influence the Hemoglobin Mass-VO2Peak Relationship in Endurance Athletes at Moderate Altitude?

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000517529.69037.66 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 49 (5S) ◽

pp. 247

Author(s):

Jesse A. Goodrich ◽

Benjamin J. Ryan ◽

William C. Byrnes

Keyword(s):

Endurance Athletes ◽

Moderate Altitude ◽

Oxyhemoglobin Saturation ◽

Hemoglobin Mass

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Influence of Endurance Training During Childhood on Total Hemoglobin Mass

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2018.00251 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Nicole Prommer ◽

Nadine Wachsmuth ◽

Ina Thieme ◽

Christian Wachsmuth ◽

Erica M. Mancera-Soto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endurance Training ◽

Total Hemoglobin ◽

Hemoglobin Mass

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Impact of Energy Availability, Health, and Sex on Hemoglobin-Mass Responses Following Live-High–Train-High Altitude Training in Elite Female and Male Distance Athletes

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2017-0547 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 1090-1096 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ida A. Heikura ◽

Louise M. Burke ◽

Dan Bergland ◽

Arja L.T. Uusitalo ◽

Antti A. Mero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Altitude ◽

Iron Status ◽

Endurance Athletes ◽

Hypoxic Exposure ◽

Energy Availability ◽

Altitude Training ◽

Hemoglobin Mass ◽

And Training ◽

Low Energy Availability ◽

Rebreathing Method

Purpose: The authors investigated the effects of sex, energy availability (EA), and health status on the change in hemoglobin mass (ΔHbmass) in elite endurance athletes over ∼3–4 wk of live-high–train-high altitude training in Flagstaff, AZ (2135 m; n = 27 women; n = 21 men; 27% 2016 Olympians). Methods: Precamp and postcamp Hbmass (optimized carbon monoxide rebreathing method) and iron status were measured, EA was estimated via food and training logs, and a Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAFQ) and a general injury/illness questionnaire were completed. Hypoxic exposure (h) was calculated with low (<500 h), moderate (500–600 h), and high (>600 h) groupings. Results: Absolute and relative percentage ΔHbmass was significantly greater in women (6.2% [4.0%], P < .001) than men (3.2% [3.3%], P = .008). %ΔHbmass showed a dose–response with hypoxic exposure (3.1% [3.8%] vs 4.9% [3.8%] vs 6.8% [3.7%], P = .013). Hbmasspre was significantly higher in eumenorrheic vs amenorrheic women (12.2 [1.0] vs 11.3 [0.5] g/kg, P = .004). Although statistically underpowered, %ΔHbmass was significantly less in sick (n = 4, −0.5% [0.4%]) vs healthy (n = 44, 5.4% [3.8%], P < .001) athletes. There were no significant correlations between self-reported iron intake, sex hormones, or EA on Hbmass outcomes. However, there was a trend for a negative correlation between LEAFQ score and %ΔHbmass (r = −.353, P = .07). Conclusions: The findings confirm the importance of baseline Hbmass and exposure to hypoxia on increases in Hbmass during altitude training, while emphasizing the importance of athlete health and indices of EA on an optimal baseline Hbmass and hematological response to hypoxia.

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