Effect of Training in Normobaric Hypoxia on Cardiac Markers

Launched by JÓZEF PIŁSUDSKI UNIVERSITY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION · Mar 19, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study looks at how a single bout of exercise to the point of exhaustion affects heart health markers when people breathe normal air versus low-oxygen air, and whether training in a low-oxygen environment changes these responses. It has three stages: Stage 1 (already completed) compared heart-related blood markers after exercise in different hypoxia levels and in both trained endurance athletes (cyclists/triathletes) and untrained healthy men. Stage 2 will test three weeks of endurance training in hypoxia and a period of living in a hypoxic environment versus staying in normal air, in competitive cyclists and other men. Stage 3 will examine three weeks of resistance (strength) training in hypoxia versus normal air in strength athletes. Across stages, researchers measure blood markers of heart stress or injury, heart function with ultrasound, fitness tests, and various blood and gas balance measures.

To be eligible, men aged 20–40 must be healthy, with a high level of fitness (VO2max of at least 60 ml/kg/min) and several years of training (6+ years for Stage 1; 3+ years for Stages 2 and 3). Participants should not use drugs, smoke, have hypertension, or have other chronic diseases. If enrolled, you can expect two biking tests per testing session, with a rest period in between, and multiple blood samples collected before, right after, and at several times (2, 6, and 24 hours) after the tests. You’ll also undergo heart ultrasound and a range of lab measurements. The trial is randomized and includes several groups with different hypoxia exposures, and results will help scientists understand how the heart responds to hypoxia and whether targeted training could influence that response. IPD sharing is planned after publication, and the study is being conducted at the Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland.

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • males
• • age 20-40 years
• • VO2max of not less than 60 ml/kg/min
• • training experience of at least 6 years (for stage 1) and 3 years (for stage 2 and 3)
• • at least a six-month wash-out period from any previous altitude training, - competitive cyclists in the pre-competition phase of training (for stage 2)
• • no chronic diseases
• • systolic blood pressure 100-140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure 60-90 mmHg.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • participants who use drugs
• • drink alcohol or smoke,
• • hypertension
• • prematurely stopped the exercise test.