Short term salbutamol ingestion and supramaximal exercise in healthy women

To test the hypothesis that chronic salbutamol intake improves performance during supramaximal exercise and to estimate the effects of this treatment on body composition, bone mass, and metabolic indices in healthy women.

Fourteen female volunteers (seven sedentary and seven recreationally trained) performed a 30 second Wingate test with and without salbutamol ingestion (12 mg/day for four weeks) in a random, double blind, crossover design. Blood samples were collected at rest, at the end of the test, and during passive recovery for lactate measurement. Body composition and bone mass were determined by dual energy x ray absorptiometry.

Peak power appeared significantly earlier and was significantly (p<0.05) increased after salbutamol intake in all subjects. There was no difference in total work performed and fatigue indices with salbutamol compared with placebo. No significant alterations in lean or fat body mass and bone variables were observed with salbutamol treatment in either trained or untrained subjects during the trial. In contrast, blood lactate was significantly (p<0.05) increased during the recovery period after salbutamol ingestion compared with placebo.

As in men, chronic administration of therapeutic concentrations of salbutamol did not induce an anabolic effect in women but increased maximal anaerobic power. Further studies are necessary to clarify the mechanisms involved.