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. 2020 Jan 4;8(1):4.
doi: 10.3390/sports8010004.

Acute Low-Dose Hyperoxia during a Single Bout of High-Intensity Interval Exercise Does Not Affect Red Blood Cell Deformability and Muscle Oxygenation in Trained Men-A Randomized Crossover Study

Nils Freitag  1 , Tim Böttrich  1 , Pia D Weber  1 , Giorgio Manferdelli  2 , Daniel A Bizjak  1 , Marijke Grau  1 , Tanja C Sanders  3 , Wilhelm Bloch  1 , Moritz Schumann  1
Affiliations

Acute Low-Dose Hyperoxia during a Single Bout of High-Intensity Interval Exercise Does Not Affect Red Blood Cell Deformability and Muscle Oxygenation in Trained Men-A Randomized Crossover Study

Nils Freitag et al. Sports (Basel). .

Abstract

Recent technological developments provide easy access to use an artificial oxygen supply (hyperoxia) during exercise training. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a commercially available oxygen compressor inducing low-dose hyperoxia, on limiting factors of endurance performance. Thirteen active men (age 24 ± 3 years) performed a high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) session (5 × 3 min at 80% of Wmax, separated by 2 min at 40% Wmax) on a cycle ergometer, both in hyperoxia (4 L∙min-1, 94% O2, HYP) or ambient conditions (21% O2, NORM) in randomized order. The primary outcome was defined as red blood cell deformability (RBC-D), while our secondary interest included changes in muscle oxygenation. RBC-D was expressed by the ratio of shear stress at half-maximal deformation (SS1/2) and maximal deformability (EImax) and muscle oxygenation of the rectus femoris muscle was assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy. No statistically significant changes occurred in SS1/2 and EImax in either condition. The ratio of SS1/2 to EImax statistically decreased in NORM (p < 0.01; Δ: -0.10; 95%CI: -0.22, 0.02) but not HYP (p > 0.05; Δ: -0.16; 95%CI: -0.23, -0.08). Muscle oxygenation remained unchanged. This study showed that low-dose hyperoxia during HIIE using a commercially available device with a flow rate of only 4 L·min-1 may not be sufficient to induce acute ergogenic effects compared to normoxic conditions.

Keywords: FiO2; NIRS; hemorheologic response; interval exercise; oxygen kinetics; oxygen supplementation; oxygen therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT flow diagram for randomized crossover trials. CONSORT = Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The ratio of SS1/2 to EImax before and after each intervention, * statistically significant different to pre-test values (p < 0.01); values presented as mean ± SD.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) Oxygenated haemoglobin concentrations (oxyHb) and (b) deoxygenated haemoglobin concentrations (deoxyHb) of the right rectus femoris muscle during HIIE for hyperoxia and normoxia; H1-H5 high-intensity intervals number one to five; L1-L5 active rest; values presented as mean ± SD.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Blood lactate concentrations (BLa), (b) Heart rate (HR) responses and (c) RPE during HIIE in hyperoxia and normoxia, respectively; R rest; H1-H5 high-intensity intervals number one to five; L1-L5 active rest; values presented as mean ± SD.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Blood lactate concentrations (BLa), (b) Heart rate (HR) responses and (c) RPE during HIIE in hyperoxia and normoxia, respectively; R rest; H1-H5 high-intensity intervals number one to five; L1-L5 active rest; values presented as mean ± SD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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