Time trial performance is sensitive to low-volume autologous blood transfusion

TY - JOUR

T1 - Time trial performance is sensitive to low-volume autologous blood transfusion

AU - Bejder, Jacob

AU - Andersen, Andreas Breenfeldt

AU - Solheim, Sara Amalie

AU - Gybel-Brask, Mikkel

AU - Secher, Niels H.

AU - Johansson, Pär I

AU - Nordsborg, Nikolai Baastrup

N1 - CURIS 2019 NEXS 099

PY - 2019/4/1

Y1 - 2019/4/1

N2 - Purpose This study tested the hypothesis that autologous blood transfusion (ABT) of 50% of the red blood cells (RBC) from a standard 450-mL phlebotomy would increase mean power in a cycling time trial. In addition, the study investigated whether further ABT of RBC obtained from another 450-mL phlebotomy would increase repeated cycling sprint ability. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design (3-month wash-out), nine highly trained male subjects donated two 450-mL blood bags each (BT trial) or were sham phlebotomized (PLA trial). Four weeks later, a 650-kcal time trial (n = 7) was performed 3 d before and 2 h after receiving either 50% (135 mL) of the RBC or a sham transfusion. On the following day, transfusion of RBC (235 mL) from the second donation or sham transfusion was completed. A 4 × 30-s all-out cycling sprint interspersed by 4 min of recovery was performed 6 d before and 3 d after the second ABT (n = 9). Results The mean power was increased in time trials from before to after transfusion (P < 0.05) in BT (213 ± 35 vs 223 ± 38 W; mean ± SD) but not in PLA (223 ± 42 vs 224 ± 46 W). In contrast, the mean power output across the four 30-s sprint bouts remained similar in BT (639 ± 35 vs 644 ± 26 W) and PLA (638 ± 43 vs 639 ± 25 W). Conclusions ABT of only 135 mL of RBC is sufficient to increase mean power in a 650-kcal cycling time trial by 5% in highly trained men. In contrast, a combined high-volume transfusion of 135 and 235 mL of RBC does not alter 4 × 30-s all-out cycling performance interspersed with 4 min of recovery.

AB - Purpose This study tested the hypothesis that autologous blood transfusion (ABT) of 50% of the red blood cells (RBC) from a standard 450-mL phlebotomy would increase mean power in a cycling time trial. In addition, the study investigated whether further ABT of RBC obtained from another 450-mL phlebotomy would increase repeated cycling sprint ability. Methods In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design (3-month wash-out), nine highly trained male subjects donated two 450-mL blood bags each (BT trial) or were sham phlebotomized (PLA trial). Four weeks later, a 650-kcal time trial (n = 7) was performed 3 d before and 2 h after receiving either 50% (135 mL) of the RBC or a sham transfusion. On the following day, transfusion of RBC (235 mL) from the second donation or sham transfusion was completed. A 4 × 30-s all-out cycling sprint interspersed by 4 min of recovery was performed 6 d before and 3 d after the second ABT (n = 9). Results The mean power was increased in time trials from before to after transfusion (P < 0.05) in BT (213 ± 35 vs 223 ± 38 W; mean ± SD) but not in PLA (223 ± 42 vs 224 ± 46 W). In contrast, the mean power output across the four 30-s sprint bouts remained similar in BT (639 ± 35 vs 644 ± 26 W) and PLA (638 ± 43 vs 639 ± 25 W). Conclusions ABT of only 135 mL of RBC is sufficient to increase mean power in a 650-kcal cycling time trial by 5% in highly trained men. In contrast, a combined high-volume transfusion of 135 and 235 mL of RBC does not alter 4 × 30-s all-out cycling performance interspersed with 4 min of recovery.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Small-volume transfusion

KW - Large-volume transfusion

KW - Cycling

KW - Endurance

KW - Intermittent exercise

KW - Doping

U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001837

DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001837

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30407276

SN - 0195-9131

VL - 51

SP - 692

EP - 700

JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

IS - 4

ER -