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Int J Sports Med 2012; 33(04): 305-309
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1291322
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

No Effect of Intravenous Actovegin® on Peak Aerobic Capacity

P. Lee
1   Cardiff University, Institute of Medical Engineering and Medical Physics, Cardiff, United Kingdom
,
L. Nokes
2   Cardiff University, Engineering, Cardiff, United Kingdom
,
P. M. Smith
3   University of Wales Institute, Cardiff School of Sport, Cardiff, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 03 October 2011

Publication Date:
08 February 2012 (online)

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Abstract

There is much speculation that Actovegin® is ergogenic, but no scientific work has been published in this field. 8 participants [mean(± SD) age, height and mass of 24 (7) years, 1.76 (0.07) m and 80.1 (9.1) kg, respectively] completed 3 exhaustive arm crank ergometry tests. Following Baseline testing 2 further tests were performed 2 h following the injection of either 40 ml of Actovegin® or a saline Placebo. Peak power (Wpeak), peak physiological responses, concentrations of blood glucose and lactate, exercise efficiency (%), VO2 gain (ml·W-1), and the respiratory compensation point (RCP) were determined. Repeated measures ANOVA tests were used to analyse data with significance accepted at p≤0.05. Values of mean (±90% CI) bias were calculated to further explore quantitative differences between trials. Strong trends for variations in Wpeak (p=0.054) and RCP (p=0.054) were evident; likely meaningful effects existed between the Baseline and both injection trials, but only a trivial effect was noted between Placebo and Actovegin® (bias: Wpeak 0.8±3.2 and RCP; 2.5±4.7 W). Concentrations of blood lactate and glucose changed across time, but did not differ between the 3 trials. Our data suggests the Actovegin® is not ergogenic and did not influence functional capacity in the context of the exhaustive, upper-body test employed.

Key words

drug injection - ergogenic aid - doping - arm crank ergometry - haemodialysate
 

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