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Effects of the ‘live high–train low’ method on prooxidant/antioxidant balance on elite athletes

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 63, pages 756–762 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

We previously demonstrated that acute exposure to hypoxia (3 h at 3000 m) increased oxidative stress markers. Thus, by using the ‘living high–training low’ (LHTL) method, we further hypothesized that intermittent hypoxia associated with endurance training alters the prooxidant/antioxidant balance.

Subjects/Methods:

Twelve elite athletes from the Athletic French Federation were subjected to 18-day endurance training. They were divided into two groups: one group (control group) trained at 1200 m and lived in hypoxia (2500–3000 m simulated altitude) and the second group trained and lived at 1200 m. The subjects performed an acute hypoxic test (10 min at 4800 m) before and immediately after the training. Plasma levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehydes (MDA), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), lipid-soluble antioxidants normalized for triacylglycerols, and cholesterol and retinol were measured before and after the 4800 m tests.

Results:

After the training, MDA and AOPP concentrations were decreased in response to the 4800 m test only for the control group. Eighteen days of LHTL induced a significant decrease of all antioxidant markers (FRAP, P=0.01; α-tocopherol, P=0.04; β-carotene, P=0.01 and lycopene, P=0.02) for the runners. This imbalance between antioxidant and prooxidant might result from insufficient intakes in vitamins A and E.

Conclusions:

The LHTL model characterized by the association of aerobic exercises and intermittent resting hypoxia exposures decreased the antioxidant status whereas the normoxic endurance training induced preconditioning mechanisms in response to the 4800 m test.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the subjects for their contribution. We also thank Clark Ellice for reviewing the paper. This study was funded by the International Olympic Committee, the Ministère des sports français and the Direction Régionale de la Jeunesse et des Sports de la Région Auvergne.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie des Activités Physiques et Sportives, Faculté de Médecine, Université d'Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    V Pialoux, R Mounier, J Coudert & N Fellmann

  2. Equipe Stress Métabolique et Micronutriments, Unité de Nutrition Humaine UMR 1019, INRA, Saint Genès Champanelle, France

    E Rock & A Mazur

  3. Centre National de Ski Nordique, ID Jacobeys, Prémanon, France

    L Schmitt

  4. Laboratoire Réponses cellulaires et fonctionnelles à l'hypoxie, Université Paris 13, Bobigny, France

    J-P Richalet & J Brugniaux

  5. Ecole Nationale de Ski et d'Alpinisme, Chamonix, France

    P Robach

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  1. V Pialoux
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Correspondence to N Fellmann.

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Pialoux, V., Mounier, R., Rock, E. et al. Effects of the ‘live high–train low’ method on prooxidant/antioxidant balance on elite athletes. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 756–762 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2008.30

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