ORIGINAL ARTICLE  BODY COMPOSITION, NUTRITION 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2017 January-February;57(1-2):60-9

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.16.06549-X

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

A new dose of maximal-intensity interval training in hypoxia to improve body composition and hemoglobin and hematocrit levels: a pilot study

Marta CAMACHO-CARDENOSA, Alba CAMACHO-CARDENOSA, Ismael MARTÍNEZ GUARDADO, Marta MARCOS-SERRANO, Rafael TIMON, Guillermo OLCINA ✉

Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain

BACKGROUND: This pilot study had the aim to determine the effects of a new dose of maximal-intensity interval training in hypoxia in active adults.
METHODS: Twenty-four university student volunteers were randomly assigned to three groups: hypoxia group, normoxia group or control group. The eight training sessions consisted of 2 sets of 5 repeated sprints of 10 seconds with a recovery of 20 seconds between sprints and a recovery period of 10 minutes between sets. Body composition was measured following standard procedures. A blood sample was taken for an immediate hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration assessment. An all-out 3-ute test was performed to evaluate ventilation parameters and power.
RESULTS: HCT and Hb were significantly higher for the hypoxia group in Post- and Det- (P=0.01; P=0.03). Fat mass percentage was significantly lower for the hypoxia group in both assessments (P=0.05; P=0.05). The hypoxia group underwent a significant increase in mean power after the recovery period.
CONCLUSIONS: A new dose of 8 sessions of maximal-intensity interval training in hypoxia is enough to decrease the percentage of fat mass and to improve HCT and Hb parameters and mean muscle power in healthy and active adults.

KEY WORDS: Hemoglobins - Oxygen consumption - Body Mass Index