The Effects of Live High-train Low on EPO, VEGF, and Hematological Variables in Elite Rowers

The Polish national rower team athletes, 13 males (ages 27,0±4,2 years), were randomly divided into two groups: 1) The hypoxic group (H) included 8 rowers participating in sports training and the LH-TL method, hypoxic rooms (FiO2=14.5%, corresponds to an altitude of 3000 meters). 2) The control group (C) presented 5 rowers participating only in sports training and living in normoxic rooms, at the same sports camp. Rowers were observed during the preparatory period. The hypoxic group lived and slept in hypoxic rooms, for at least 8-14 hours per day. During the camp, all rowers followed the same training schedule and diet.All participants' saturation and heart rate were measured daily, morning and evening, throughout the camp period. Venous blood samples were taken four times, at the beginning of the camp (Baseline), after 5 days, after 12 days, and after 18 days of the camp. Body composition parameters such as body mass index, body fat, and free fat mass were estimated using the bioelectrical impedance method of an analyzer Tanita BC 418 (Japan). Data analysis was performed using Statistica. The response to hypoxia is very individual. Depending on many aspects, such as the type of training, duration, intensity, or hypoxic stimulus, hypoxia affects the athlete in various ways. The results of this study have shown that the blood parameters did not increase significantly in the hypoxic group compared to the control group. However, reticulocytes, immature red blood cells, have shown significant differences after 18-d LH-TL between groups. Further research should be carried out to investigate an optimal hypoxic dose and time, which will raise EPO, VEGF, and morphology variables.