Article
Sport Sciences
Anu Elisa Koivisto-Mork, Ida Siobhan Svendsen, Oyvind Skattebo, Jostein Hallen, Goran Paulsen
Summary: The study found that pre-altitude s-ferritin or iron supplementation were not related to the altitude-induced increase in hemoglobin mass in world-class endurance athletes with clinically normal iron stores.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS
(2021)
Article
Sport Sciences
Oona Kettunen, Antti Leppavuori, Ritva Mikkonen, Juha E. Peltonen, Ari Nummela, Bettina Wikstrom, Vesa Linnamo
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the effects of 4 weeks of normobaric live high-train low and high training on hematological, cardiorespiratory, and sea-level performance changes. The results showed that normobaric LHTLH increased hemoglobin mass but did not significantly improve maximal endurance performance and maximal oxygen uptake compared to living and training in normoxia.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shamma Al-Muraikhy, Manjunath Ramanjaneya, Alexander S. Domling, Ilham Bettahi, Francesco Donati, Francesco Botre, Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, Maha Sellami, Mohamed A. Elrayess
Summary: The study found that high endurance elite athletes have lower levels of circulating C2, C3b/iC3b, and adipsin, which are associated with lower inflammatory, oxidative stress, and cellular aging markers. These complements were positively correlated with most other detected complements, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and antioxidant enzymes, but negatively correlated with telomere length in younger elite athletes. High endurance elite athletes also showed lower concentrations of 10 other complements in younger athletes compared to older counterparts.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Jay F. Storz, Anthony Signore
Summary: In natural populations of high-altitude vertebrates, introgressive hybridization may serve as an important source of adaptive genetic variation. Studies have shown evidence of positive selection on introgressed allelic variants, involving long-term highland species as donors and more recently arrived colonizing species as recipients. Case studies involving the HIF transcription factor EPAS1 in high-altitude humans and canids have provided insights into complex histories of ancient introgression. Directed mutagenesis experiments have successfully identified causative amino acid mutations in introgressed hemoglobin variants, shedding light on the functional properties of selectively introgressed alleles.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katja Tomazin, Filipa Almeida, Igor Stirn, Paulino Padial, Juan Bonitch-Gongora, Antonio J. Morales-Artacho, Vojko Strojnik, Belen Feriche
Summary: The study aimed to investigate neuromuscular adaptations in elite judo athletes after three weeks of power-oriented strength training at terrestrial altitude (2320 m). Altitude induced differences in muscular adaptations likely due to greater peripheral fatigue were observed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Erinija Pranckeviciene, Valentina Gineviciene, Audrone Jakaitiene, Laimonas Januska, Algirdas Utkus
Summary: TGS reflects the additive effect of genotypes on predicting complex traits like athletic performance. Genotypes are scored based on genotype-phenotype relationships, and the scores are used to stratify individuals based on their traits. These scores can be revised computationally using genotype data and our analysis and modelling tools are available for practitioners to use.
Article
Physiology
A. Mireille Baart, Jacqueline M. T. Klein Gunnewiek, Michiel G. J. Balvers, Johannes Zwerver, Peter C. J. Vergouwen
Summary: A study comparing elite high-altitude athletes (HAA) and sea-level athletes (SLA) found that different ways of parameter expression and methods of blood volume assessment can influence the interpretation of blood test results. In this unique case series, relative and absolute red blood cell (RBC) parameters were compared between the two groups, with differences in hemoglobin concentration and total hemoglobin mass per kg body weight observed in male HAA but not in female athletes. The study suggests that discrepancies in parameter expression and blood volume assessment methods may lead to misinterpretation and incorrect conclusions in athletic blood tests.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Nicole Casali, Silvia Cerea, Tatiana Moro, Antonio Paoli, Marta Ghisi
Summary: During the COVID-19 lockdown, Italian athletes significantly reduced their physical activity levels, but engaging in high-intensity physical activity positively impacted their mental and physical health. Professional athletes were better able to maintain high-intensity physical activity, while female athletes showed poorer mental health, physical health, and body dissatisfaction compared to males.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jean-Paul Richalet, Eric Hermand, Francois J. Lhuissier
Summary: Hypoxic conditions encountered at high altitude affect all physiological functions. Cardiovascular responses to hypoxia provide a remarkable model of oxygen regulation. Hypoxia can have adverse effects in patients with cardiovascular diseases, but intermittent, moderate hypoxia might be useful in managing certain cardiovascular disorders.
NATURE REVIEWS CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yi Lei, Liandong Yang, Yu Zhou, Cheng Wang, Wenqi Lv, Lin Li, Shunping He
Summary: Research on the genetic basis of hypoxic adaptation in high-altitude environments is active in evolutionary biology. The study investigated Hb concentration in fish at different altitudes, finding species-specific Hb concentration with a non-positive correlation with altitude. The discovery of positively selected Hb genes in schizothoracinae fishes indicates potential functional divergence in Hb isoforms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Hematology
Paul Robach, Elena Gammella, Stefania Recalcati, Domenico Girelli, Annalisa Castagna, Matthieu Roustit, Carsten Lundby, Anne-Kristine Lundby, Pierre Bouzat, Samuel Verges, Guillaume Sechaud, Pierluigi Banco, Mario Uhr, Catherine Cornu, Pierre Sallet, Gaetano Cairo
Summary: The study demonstrates that in healthy humans, ERFE responds to slight increases in Epo levels without Hb mass expansion, and downregulates hepcidin in an apparently iron-independent manner. Notably, ERFE levels are positively correlated with micro-dose Epo administration, suggesting its potential as a new biomarker for doping detection.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Maria Hrozanova, Rune Talsnes, Oyvind Karlsson, Kerry McGawley, Frode Moen
Summary: This study observed changes in sleep patterns of elite endurance athletes during a high-altitude training camp, finding that altitude reduced total sleep time and light sleep while increasing deep sleep and respiration rate, with SpO(2) and training load being associated with these changes.
Article
Physiology
Angelica Lodin-Sundstrom, Pontus Holmstrom, Marcus Ekstam, Daniel Soderberg, Erika Schagatay
Summary: The study found that exercise in hypoxic conditions can further enhance splenic contraction, helping to cope with short bouts of extreme hypoxia. The observed splenic contraction gradually returns to baseline after exercise cessation.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kenneth L. Chiou, Mareike C. Janiak, India A. Schneider-Crease, Sharmi Sen, Ferehiwot Ayele, Idrissa S. Chuma, Sascha Knauf, Alemayehu Lemma, Anthony Signore, Anthony M. D'Ippolito, Belayneh Abebe, Abebaw Azanaw Haile, Fanuel Kebede, Peter J. Fashing, Nga Nguyen, Colleen McCann, Marlys L. Houck, Jeffrey D. Wall, Andrew S. Burrell, Christina M. Bergey, Jeffrey Rogers, Jane E. Phillips-Conroy, Clifford J. Jolly, Amanda D. Melin, Jay F. Storz, Amy Lu, Jacinta C. Beehner, Thore J. Bergman, Noah Snyder-Mackler
Summary: Analyzing the genome of the gelada, a monkey species native to high altitudes in Ethiopia, researchers have identified new genetic elements associated with high-altitude adaptation. They found that geladas at high altitudes have unique physical traits and amino acid substitutions in hemoglobin, but their hemoglobin's properties and concentration are similar to lowland primates. They also discovered genes and genomic regions that have evolved rapidly in the gelada lineage, potentially due to altitude-related selection.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Adam Y. Li, John R. Durbin, Theodore C. Hannah, Muhammad Ali, Zachary Spiera, Naoum Fares Marayati, Nickolas Dreher, Alexander J. Schupper, Lindsey Kuohn, Alex Gometz, Mark R. Lovell, Tanvir F. Choudhri
Summary: The study found that high altitude was associated with a higher incidence of suspected concussions, but less severe initial injuries and prolonged recovery time.
