No change in hemoglobin mass after 40 days of physical activity in previously untrained adults
A Eastwood1, P C Bourdon, K I Norton
1Sport Science Unit, South Australian Sports Institute, Adelaide, Australia. annette.eastwood@sa.gov.au
Abstract:
A high hemoglobin mass (Hb(mass)) is associated with a high maximum aerobic power (VO(2max)), however, the extent to which Hb(mass) is influenced by training is currently unclear. Accordingly, this study monitored changes in Hb(mass) and VO(2max) in 12 previously untrained adults (aged 18-25 years) following 40 days of regular physical activity. Hb(mass) and VO(2max) were assessed at the start and end of a 40-day physical activity program, which comprised of approximately 40 min of daily, moderate-intensity physical activity. Relative VO(2max) increased by 11.3%, yet there was no significant change in relative Hb(mass) (1.7%) and body mass (0.2%) during the 40-day period. There was a significant correlation between Hb(mass) and VO(2max) at the start of the study (r=0.58, P=0.05), but not between the change in relative VO(2max) and the change in relative Hb(mass) (r=-0.07, P=0.83). Our results support the concept of relative stability in Hb(mass) with approximately 1 month of moderate-intensity physical activity suggesting that Hb(mass) may be used for talent identification and possibly for anti-doping purposes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...
Oxygen Transport in the Blood
Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Hemoglobin
When all four heme groups are bound to oxygen, the resulting molecule is called oxyhemoglobin. As a result, arterial blood...


