"Functional" Respiratory Muscle Training During Endurance Exercise Causes Modest Hypoxemia but Overall is Well Tolerated.

A novel commercial training mask purportedly allows for combined respiratory muscle training and altitude exposure during exercise. We examined the mask's ability to deliver on this claim. Ten men completed three bouts of treadmill exercise at a matched workload (60%VO2peak) in a controlled laboratory environment. During exercise, the mask was worn in 2 manufacturer-defined settings (9,000 ft [9K] and 15,000 ft [15K]) and a Sham configuration (∼3,500 ft). Ventilation (V(E)), tidal volume (V(T)), respiratory rate (R(R)), expired oxygen (F(E)O2) and carbon dioxide (F(E)CO2), peripheral oxygen saturation (S(P)O2), heart rate, and RPE were measured each minute during exercise, and subjects completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) immediately after. The mask caused a reduction in V(E) of ∼20 L/min in both the 9K and 15K configurations (p < 0.001). This was due to a reduction in R(R) of ∼10 b·min, but not V(T), which was elevated by ∼250 ml (p < 0.001). F(E)O2 was reduced and F(E)CO2 was elevated above Sham in both 9K and 15K (p < 0.001). VO2 was not different across conditions (p = 0.210), but VCO2 trended lower at 9K (p = 0.093) and was reduced at 15K (p = 0.016). V(E)/VO2 was 18.3% lower than Sham at 9K and 19.2% lower at 15K. V(E)/VCO2 was 16.2% lower than Sham at 9K and 18.8% lower at 15K (all p < 0.001). Heart rate increased with exercise (p < 0.001) but was not different among conditions (p = 0.285). S(P)O2 averaged 94% in Sham, 91% at 9K, and 89% at 15K (p < 0.001). RPE and BAI were also higher in 9K and 15K (p < 0.010), but there was no difference among mask conditions. The training mask caused inadequate hyperventilation that led to arterial hypoxemia and psychological discomfort, but the magnitude of these responses were small and they did not vary across mask configurations.

Dietary nitrate reduces the O2 cost of desert marching but elevates the rise in core temperature.

PURPOSE: Dietary nitrate (NO3 (-)) supplementation reduces the O2 cost of fixed-workload tasks performed in temperate environments but has not been examined in the heat. If this effect were retained it could reduce heatstroke risk in military personnel that are deployed for desert combat. METHODS: Nine men completed three 45 min loaded battle marches at a standard cadence (4.83 km h(-1)/1.5 % grade) while wearing full combat gear [BDU, boots, body armor (8 kg), NBC suit] and carrying a loaded rucksack (16 kg). The 1st March (FAM) commenced in a temperate environment. The 2nd and 3rd commenced in simulated dry desert conditions (41 °C/20 % RH) and required subjects to ingest the beetroot juice equivalent of 8.4 mmol NO3 (-) (BRJ) or a NO3 (-) depleted placebo (PLA) for 6 days prior. VO2, VCO2, V E, core (T re), skin (T sk), and mean body (T b) temperatures, HR, and physiological strain index (PSI) were measured continuously. Thermal sensation, generalized discomfort, and perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at 5 min intervals. Heat storage (HS) was calculated. Blood markers of gastrointestinal permeability (TNF, Il-6, HO-1) were measured before and after exercise. RESULTS: VO2 in BRJ was lower than PLA from 1 to 12; 16 to 26; and 29 to 45 min of exercise (p < 0.05). VCO2 in BRJ was lower than PLA from 1 to 12 min (p < 0.05). V E in BRJ was lower than PLA from 1 to 20 min of exercise (p < 0.05). T re and T b in BRJ exceeded PLA from 16 to 45 min (p < 0.05). TNF, Il-6, and HO-1 were reduced in BRJ (p < 0.05) while HR, PSI, Tsk, and HS were not altered (p > 0.05). Thermal sensation, generalized discomfort, and RPE were elevated in BRJ from 40 to 45, 25 to 45, and 10 to 45 min, respectively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Metabolic efficiency was improved in BRJ. Paradoxically, body temperatures rose more. This was not due to gut permeability. Therefore, we speculate that based on elimination of other possibilities, blood redistribution from skin to skeletal muscle may have contributed to impaired heat exchange.