Longitudinal changes in haemoglobin mass and VO2max in adolescents

Abstract

This study assessed the relationship between haemoglobin mass (Hb(mass)) and maximum oxygen consumption (VO(2max)) in adolescents over 1 year. Twenty-three subjects (11-15 years) participated; 12 undertook ~12 months of cycle training (cyclists) and 11 were sedentary (controls). Hb(mass) and VO(2max) were measured approximately every 3 months. At baseline there was a high correlation (r = 0.82, P < 0.0001) between relative VO(2max) (ml kg(-1) min(-1)) and relative Hb(mass) (g kg(-1)). During 12 months there was a significant increase in relative VO(2max) of the cyclists but not the controls; however, there was no corresponding increase in relative Hb(mass) of either group. The correlation between percent changes in relative VO(2max) and relative Hb(mass) was not significant for cyclists (r = 0.31, P = 0.33) or controls (r = 0.42, P = 0.19). Training does not increase relative Hb(mass) in adolescents consistent with a strong hereditary role for Hb(mass) and VO(2max). Hb(mass) may be used to identify adolescents who have a high VO(2max).

Total haemoglobin mass and red blood cell profile in endurance-trained and non-endurance-trained adolescent athletes

“…Prommer and Schmidt (2009) reported a difference of up to *50% (15 and 12 g kg -1 for adult male and female elite endurance athletes versus 10 and 9 g kg -1 for male and female untrained individuals). The male (12.0 ± 1.3 g kg -1 ) and female (9.9 ± 0.9 g kg -1 ) adolescent endurance athletes of the present study had lower tHb masses than the above-mentioned elite adult endurance athletes, however, their tHb masses were similar to the values reported for adolescent endurance athletes in other studies (Eastwood et al 2009;Koch and Röcker 1977). Koch and Röcker (1977) estimated tHb mass from the measurement of plasma volume and reported tHb mass of 12.6 ± 1.9 g kg -1 in eight 14-15-year-old trained boys as compared to 14.4 ± 2.0 g kg -1 in six endurance-trained men.…”

“…This observation is in line with the results of two investigations performed with younger athletes than in the present study. Eastwood et al (2009) also found a significant increase in tHb mass in 11-15-year-old cyclists after 12 months of regular endurance training, but unchanged values when tHb mass was related to body weight. In a study with previously untrained 11-13-year-old boys, an increase in tHb mass was observed after these boys had been subjected to 34 training sessions (39/week) designed to improve aerobic capacity and this increase in tHb mass was also explained by growth processes taking place in the observation period (von Döbeln and Eriksson 1972).…”

“…To our knowledge, there is only one study which investigated longitudinal changes in tHb mass in young athletes. Eastwood et al (2009) reported a significant increase in tHb mass in twelve 11 to 15-year-old male and female cyclists after 1 year of regular training, however, related to body weight, this change was not significant. With regard to the close relationship between aerobic capacity and tHb mass, the development of tHb mass in adolescent athletes is of great interest.…”

Impact of Aerobic Exercises on Iron Deficiency Anemia in Girls

“…The results come also in agreement with Eastwood et al, (2009) [14] who concluded that after 12 months of cycle training with adolescents aged from 11 to15 years, there was no change (<2%) in relative Hb mass.…”

“…The result of this study agreed with that of Mostert and Kesselring (2002) [14], who found that after 4 weeks of aerobic exercise training, there was a tendency to less fatigue.…”