Physiological Adaptations to Simulated Intermittent Altitude on Human Health and Performance

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators expect to find that different intensity and altitude exposure levels will show what kind of intermittent exposure protocol is more beneficial to athletes and healthy individuals that experience acute exposure to altitude during exercise. This may furthermore be related to acute altitude exposure for recreational exercise use as well.

Official Title
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Investigation of Physiological Adaptations to Simulated Intermittent Altitude on Human Health and Performance

Conditions
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Altitude Hypoxia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Simulated altitude
* Other: Placebo simulated altitude


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion criteria: 18-70 years of age, history of good health, generally active to competitive athletes. Exclusion criteria: History of cardiac or pulmonary disease, not currently active, unable to exercise or meet study requirements (e.g., number of sessions), live at altitude (>2,100m or 7,000ft).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Effect of heart rate training in simulated altitude<br>Participants will exercise in simulated altitude start at a minimum of 2,000ft and will increase to no greater than 16,400ft with each visit. The increase will be in accordance to maintaining >65% max heart rate during room air based maximal peak work. | Other: Simulated altitude<br>* Participants will exercise in simulated altitude will range between 2100 feet and 16400 feet and will increase according to arm guidelines<br>|
| Experimental: Effect of saturation of oxygen training in simulated altitude<br>Participants will exercise in simulated altitude start at a minimum of 2,000ft and will increase to no greater than 16,400ft with each visit. The increase will be in accordance to maintaining 40-60% of max work rate during room air work rate and based upon saturation of oxygen of between 70-80%. | Other: Simulated altitude<br>* Participants will exercise in simulated altitude will range between 2100 feet and 16400 feet and will increase according to arm guidelines<br>|
| Active Comparator: Effect of optimized training in simulated altitude<br>Participants will perform the more beneficial intervention (heart rate or saturation of oxygen training) to evaluate whether it improves elite athlete's training status at altitude. | Other: Simulated altitude<br>* Participants will exercise in simulated altitude will range between 2100 feet and 16400 feet and will increase according to arm guidelines<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Effect of placebo training in non-simulated altitude<br>Participants will perform placebo beneficial intervention (heart rate or saturation of oxygen training) to evaluate whether the optimized protocol truely improves elite athlete's training status at altitude. | Other: Placebo simulated altitude<br>* Participants will exercise at sea level at similar percentage of intensities to the simulated altitude group.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in hemoglobin |  | Baseline, 2-week, 4-week, 6-week, and 8-week | 
| Change in hematocrit |  | Baseline, 2-week, 4-week, 6-week, and 8-week | 
| Change in erythropoietin |  | Baseline, 2-week, 4-week, 6-week, and 8-week | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in peak VO2 | Change from maximal exercise test performed at sea level | Baseline and 6- and 8-week | 
| Change in cycling performance at altitude | change in aerobic/anaerobic cycling performance at altitude | Baseline and 6- and 8-week |