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Erythropoietic adaptations to endurance training.
L M Weight1, D Alexander, T Elliot
1University of Cape Town Leukaemia Centre, South Africa.
Summary
Endurance athletes show a right-shifted oxygen dissociation curve (ODC) after marathons, indicating normal adaptation. This shift aids exercise but doesn
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Hematology
Background:
- Sports anemia is linked to erythropoietic adaptations affecting oxygen dissociation curve (ODC) and erythropoietin (EPO) production.
- Understanding these adaptations is crucial for athlete health and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the erythropoietic adaptations in endurance athletes, specifically focusing on ODC shifts and EPO levels.
- To determine if these adaptations contribute to the phenomenon of sports anemia.
Main Methods:
- Measured ODC half-saturation pressure in male and female distance runners post-marathon.
- Assessed erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate concentrations.
- Compared serum EPO concentrations between athletes (triathletes, distance runners) and sedentary controls, and post-exercise in marathon runners.
Main Results:
- A significant right-shift in the ODC was observed in both male and female distance runners after a marathon.
- Erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels were unchanged by exercise but higher in females.
- Serum EPO levels were not significantly different between athletes and controls, nor altered post-exercise in marathon runners.
Conclusions:
- The observed ODC shift in endurance athletes is a normal physiological adaptation that likely benefits oxygen delivery during exercise.
- These findings suggest that the hematological status of these athletes is normal, and the ODC shift does not suppress erythropoietic drive.