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Potassium and ventilation during incremental exercise in trained and untrained men
1Exercise Metabolism Unit, Victoria University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Plasma potassium (K+) and blood lactate (La-) significantly correlate with ventilation (VE) during incremental exercise. Endurance training reduces these responses, suggesting K+ plays a key role in exercise ventilation regulation.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Human Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Ventilation (VE) regulation during exercise is complex.
- The role of plasma potassium (K+) and blood lactate (La-) in this process requires further elucidation.
- Endurance training is known to alter physiological responses to exercise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between plasma K+ and VE during incremental exercise.
- To examine the relationship between blood La- and VE during incremental exercise.
- To compare these relationships between endurance-trained (ET) and untrained (UT) individuals.
Main Methods:
- Eight ET triathletes and eight UT men performed an incremental cycling test to volitional fatigue.
- Plasma K+, blood La-, and VE were measured throughout the test.
- Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and lactate threshold (LT) were determined.
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations were found between VE and K+ (UT: 0.87, ET: 0.77) and VE and La- (UT: 0.88, ET: 0.85).
- ET individuals exhibited lower VE, K+, and La- at higher work loads compared to UT individuals.
- VO2max and LT were significantly higher in ET compared to UT.
Conclusions:
- Plasma K+ appears to contribute significantly to the regulation of ventilation during incremental exercise.
- Endurance training attenuates the exercise-induced increase in plasma K+.
- These findings highlight the impact of training status on physiological responses during exertion.