Differential Brain and Muscle Tissue Oxygenation Responses to Exercise in Tibetans Compared to Han Chinese

Abstract

The Tibetans’ better aerobic exercise capacity at altitude remains ill-understood. We tested the hypothesis that Tibetans display better muscle and brain tissue oxygenation during exercise in hypoxia. Using near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) to provide indices of tissue oxygenation, we measured oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin ([O2Hb] and [HHb], respectively) responses of the vastus lateralis muscle and the right prefrontal cortex in ten Han Chinese and ten Tibetans during incremental cycling to exhaustion in a pressure-regulated chamber at simulated sea-level (air at 1 atm: normobaric normoxia) and 5,000 m (air at 0.5 atm: hypobaric hypoxia). Hypoxia reduced aerobic capacity by ∼22% in both groups (d = 0.8, p < 0.001 vs. normoxia), while Tibetans consistently outperformed their Han Chinese counterpart by ∼32% in normoxia and hypoxia (d = 1.0, p = 0.008). We found cerebral [O2Hb] was higher in Tibetans at normoxic maximal effort compared Han (p = 0.001), while muscle [O2Hb] was not different (p = 0.240). Hypoxic exercise lowered muscle [O2Hb] in Tibetans by a greater extent than in Han (interaction effect: p < 0.001 vs. normoxic exercise). Muscle [O2Hb] was lower in Tibetans when compared to Han during hypoxic exercise (d = 0.9, p = 0.003), but not during normoxic exercise (d = 0.4, p = 0.240). Muscle [HHb] was not different between the two groups during normoxic and hypoxic exercise (p = 0.778). Compared to Han, our findings revealed a higher brain tissue oxygenation in Tibetans during maximal exercise in normoxia, but lower muscle tissue oxygenation during exercise in hypoxia. This would suggest that the Tibetans privileged oxygenation of the brain at the expense of that of the muscle.

Comparison of physical activity and physical fitness in children and adolescents of Chinese Han and Tibet ethnicity

“…To maintain the normal levels of oxygen use in the hypoxia environment, indigenous Tibetan residents encompassed higher capillary density and blood flow ( 59 , 60 ). Additionally, Tibetans can maintain higher cerebral tissue oxygenation during maximal normoxic exercise and enhance muscle oxygen utilization during hypoxic exercise, showing better energy economy at exercise exertion ( 61–63 ). The genetic adaptation, such as the EGLN1 and PPARA among indigenously Tibetan students can be regarded as another mechanism for their superior PF components ( 64 , 65 ).…”

Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Fitness of Chinese Tibetan Adolescents with Their Han Counterparts: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study

“…In addition, there are differences in oxygen supply in the brains between Chinese Tibetan adolescents and Chinese Han adolescents in high-altitude areas. Compared with the Chinese Han adolescents in high-altitude areas, the brain tissue oxygenation of Chinese Tibetan adolescents is higher during extreme exercise in normoxia, while the muscle tissue oxygenation is lower during exercise in hypoxia, indicating that Chinese Tibetans privileged oxygenation of the brain at the expense of that of the muscle [ 37 ]. Finally, higher 20 m SRT test scores require larger body muscle strength, especially the muscle strength of lower limbs, which would directly affect the score of 20 m SRT test scores.…”