Short-Term Supplementation with Alpha-Ketoglutaric Acid and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Does not Prevent the Hypoxia Induced Decrease of Exercise Performance Despite Attenuation of Oxidative Stress

H. Gatterer; J. Greilberger; M. Philippe; M. Faulhaber; R. Djukic; M. Burtscher

doi:10.1055/s-0032-1312584

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2013; 34(01): 1-7
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1312584

Physiology & Biochemistry

Short-Term Supplementation with Alpha-Ketoglutaric Acid and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Does not Prevent the Hypoxia Induced Decrease of Exercise Performance Despite Attenuation of Oxidative Stress

H. Gatterer

¹Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

,

J. Greilberger

²Department of Physiological Chemistry, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria

³Schwarzl Medical Center, Institut für Laborwissenschaften Dr. Greilberger, Graz, Austria

,

M. Philippe

¹Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

,

M. Faulhaber

¹Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

,

R. Djukic

³Schwarzl Medical Center, Institut für Laborwissenschaften Dr. Greilberger, Graz, Austria

,

M. Burtscher

¹Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species are thought to partly be responsible for the hypoxia induced performance decrease. The present study evaluated the effects of a broad based antioxidant supplementation or the combined intake of alpha-ketoglutaric acid (α-KG) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) on the performance decrease at altitude. 18 healthy, well-trained males (age: 25±3 years; height: 179±6 cm; weight: 76.4±6.8 kg) were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to a placebo group (PL), a α-KG and 5-HMF supplementation group (AO1) or a broad based antioxidant supplementation group (AO2). Participants performed 2 incremental exercise tests to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer; the first test under normoxia and the second under hypoxia conditions (simulated altitude, FiO₂=13% ~ 4 300 m). Supplementation started 48 h before the hypoxia test. Maximal oxygen uptake, maximal power output, power output at the ventilatory and lactate threshold and the tissue oxygenation index (NIRS) were measured under both conditions. Oxidative stress markers were measured before the supplementation and after the hypoxia test. Under hypoxia conditions all performance parameters decreased in the range of 19–39% with no differences between groups. A significant change from normoxia to hypoxia (p<0.001) and between groups (p=0.038) were found for the tissue oxygenation index. Post hoc test revealed significant differences between the PL and both, the AO1 and the AO2 group. The oxidative stress parameter carbonyl protein changed from normoxia to hypoxia in all participants and 4-hydroxynonenal decreased in the AO1 group only. In conclusion the results suggest that short-term supplementation with an antioxidant does not prevent the performance decrease at altitude. However, positive effects on muscle oxygen extraction, as indicated by the tissue oxygenation index, might indicate that mitochondrial functioning was actually influenced by the supplementation.

Key words

altitude - antioxidants - submaximal performance - reactive oxygen species - ventilatory threshold - maximal oxygen uptake

Full Text

References

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