Five weeks of heat training increases haemoglobin mass in elite cyclists
Bent R. Rønnestad, Håvard Hamarsland, Joar Hansen, Espen Holen, David Montero, Jon Elling Whist, Carsten Lundby
Abstract
New Findings What is the central question of this study? Do haemoglobin mass and red blood cell volume increase in elite cyclists training in a hot environment compared to a control group training at normal temperature? What is the main finding and its importance? Five weeks of heat training increases haemoglobin mass in elite cyclists. There are small to intermediate effect sizes for exercise parameters favouring heat training. Abstract In this study we tested the hypothesis that performing 1 h of regular light exercise in a heat chamber (HEAT; 37.8 ± 0.5°C; 65.4 ± 1.8% humidity) 5 times week −1 for a total of 5 weeks increases haemoglobin mass (Hb mass ) and exercise performance in elite cyclists ( = 76.2 ± 7.6 ml min −1 kg −1 ). Twenty‐three male volunteers were assigned to HEAT ( n = 11) or CON ( n = 12; 15.5 ± 0.1°C; 25.1 ± 0.0% humidity) training groups. Hb mass was determined before and after the intervention period in conjunction with an extensive exercise test protocol (conducted at 16–19°C). HEAT increased ( P < 0.05) Hb mass by 42 g from 893 ± 78 to 935 ± 108 g whereas Hb mass remained unchanged (+6 g) in CON. Furthermore, statistical analysis revealed a time–group interaction ( P < 0.05). The greater increase in Hb mass in HEAT, however, did not manifest in a greater increase in (225 ± 274 ml min −1 in HEAT and 161 ± 202 ml min −1 in CON). While HEAT reduced ( P < 0.05) lactate levels during some of the submaximal exercise tests, there was no statistical difference between other performance parameters. There were, however, small to intermediate effect sizes favouring HEAT for lactate threshold power output (2.8 ± 3.9 vs . −0.4 ± 5.1% change, effect size (ES) = 0.34), gross economy in the fatigued state (0.19 ± 0.42 vs . −0.12 ± 0.49%‐point change, ES = 0.52) and 15 min mean power (6.9 ± 8.4 vs . 3.4 ± 5.1% increase, ES = 0.22). This study demonstrates an increase in Hb mass and small to intermediate effect sizes on exercise variables in elite cyclists following a 5‐week heat training intervention.