Blood Chemistry, Acid-Base, Electrolyte, Blood Lactate Metabolism and Sleep at 3480 m in Mountain Marathon Runners

Abstract

Altered blood chemistry, acid-base and electrolyte are suggested determinants of sleep disturbance, with frequent arousal at high altitude even in well and long-trained altitude marathon runners. In this sample of experienced altitude marathon runners with maximal aerobic power at sea level of 61.4 ± 2.7 ml/kg-1·min-1 we found that pO2 and percent of oxygen saturation (%SO2) were lower at2050 mand3480 mthan at sea level; pO2 was higher after 38 - 41 hours than after 30 - 31 hours of acclimatization at3480 m(P < 0.05). After ascentto3480 m%SO2 decreased (P < 0.003). Com- pared to sea level values, pH increased at high altitude (P < 0.05) consistent with changes in pCO2 and (P < 0.05). Nocturnal %SpaO2 at a sleeping altitude of3480 mwas lower (P < 0.05) than at sea level. At high altitude, the percent of wake (W) time and delay falling asleep (DFA) increased, whereas non-rapid eye movement sleep (N-REM), REM sleep and total sleep time (TST) decreased (P < 0.05). Simple regression analysis disclosed a significant correlation between the changes in TST and the percent of REM sleep and the changes in %SpaO2 recorded during sleep (P < 0.05). Simple regression analysis showed a positive correlation between the changes in pO2 at higher altitude and the percent of W and of TST (P < 0.05). The changes in pO2, tCO2 and [HCO3-] correlated negatively and significantly with the percent of REM sleep changes at high altitude (P < 0.05). The TST changes at high altitude correlated positively with the changes in pO2 and pH and correlated negatively with the changes in %SO2, pCO2, tCO2, and [HCO3-] (P < 0.05). The changes in the percent of W at high altitude correlated significantly and positively with the changes in bases excess [BE] at high altitude (P < 0.05). The changes in the percent of REM sleep correlated significantly and positively with the changes in [iCa++] and [BE] and negatively with the changes in buffered bases [BB] and [BEeffective] (P < 0.05). The change in the percent of NREM + REM sleep at high altitude correlated significantly and positively with the changes in [BE] and [BB] concentration (P < 0.05). The increase in DFA at high altitude correlated significantly and negatively with the changes in pCO2 and significantly and negatively with the changes in [K+] (P < 0.05). Simple regression analysis demonstrated that the changes in pH at high altitude correlated positively and significantly with the percent of W and the DFA and negatively with the percent of changes in NREM sleep, REM sleep, NREM + REM sleep (P < 0.05). The decrease in the TST at high altitude correlated significantly and negatively with the changes in pCO2, tCO2, [HCO3-] and [K+] (P < 0.05). Our data demonstrate that the arterialized ear lobe techniques we used for evaluating most of the changes in blood chemistry, acid-base, electrolyte and blood lactate metabolism aresuitable for clinical and laboratory assessment and are important predictors of the quality and quantity of acclimatization and sleep at high altitude.

Share and Cite:

Gritti, I. , Mauri, C. , Defendi, S. , Cesana, D. , Consonni, F. , Dolci, A. and Luoni, S. (2013) Blood Chemistry, Acid-Base, Electrolyte, Blood Lactate Metabolism and Sleep at 3480 m in Mountain Marathon Runners. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 3, 13-25. doi: 10.4236/jbbs.2013.31003.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] J. H. Coote, “Medicine and Mechanisms in Altitude Sickness. Recommendations,” Sports of Medicine, Vol. 20, No. 3, 1995, pp. 148-159. doi:10.2165/00007256-199520030-00003
[2] P. H. Hackett and R. C. Roach, “High-Altitude Illness,” New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 25, No. 17, 2001, pp. 1279-1280.
[3] M. Samaja, “Blood Gas Transport at High Altitude,” Respiration, Vol. 64, 1997, pp. 422-428.
[4] M. Samaja, C. Mariani, A. Prestini and P. Ceretelli, “Acid Base Balance and O2 Transport at High Altitude,” Acta Physiological Scandinavica, Vol. 159, No. 3, 1997, pp. 249-256. doi:10.1046/j.1365-201X.1997.574342000.x
[5] M. Samaja, T. Crespi, M. Guazzi and K. D. Vandergriff, “Oxygen Transport in Blood in Altitude: Role of the Hemoglobin-Oxygen Affinity and Impact of the Phenomena Related to Hemoglobinallosterism and Red Cell Function,” European Journal Applied Physiology, Vol. 90, No. 3-4, 2003, pp. 351-359. doi:10.1007/s00421-003-0954-8
[6] G. S. Roi, M. Giacometti, G. Banfi, M. Zaccaria, I. Gritti and S. P. Von Duvillard, “Competitive Running at High Altitude, Is It Safe?” Medicine Science Sports Exercise, Vol. 3, No. 5, 1999, p. S861.
[7] G. Banfi, M. Marinelli, G. S. Roi, A. Colombini, M. Pontillo, M. Giacometti and S. Wade “Growth Hormone and Insulin-Like Growth Factor I in Athletes Performing a Marathon at 4000 m of Altitude,” Growth Regulation, Vol. 4, No. 2, 1994, pp. 82-86.
[8] G. Banfi, M. Marinelli, G. S. Roi and M. Giacometti, “Platelet Indices in Athletes Performing a Race in Altitude Environment,” Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, Vol. 9, No. 1, 1995, pp. 34-36. doi:10.1002/jcla.1860090106
[9] G. Banfi, M. Marinelli, P. Bonini, I. Gritti and G. S. Roi, “Pepsinogens and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Mountain Marathon Runners,” International Journal Sports Medicine, Vol. 17, No. 8, 1996, pp. 554-558. doi:10.1055/s-2007-972894
[10] G. Banfi, M. Pontillo, M. Marinelli, A. Dolci and G. S. Roi, “Thyrotropin and Free Thyroid Hormones in Athletes during and after Ultra Endurance Sport Performances,” Journal Clinical Ligand Assay, Vol. 21, No. 3, 1998, pp. 331-334.
[11] G. Banfi, G. S. Roi and A. Dolci, “Erythrocytes, Haemoglobin and Packed Cell Volume in Athletes Performing Races in Altitude Environment,” Haematologica, Vol. 85, 2000, p. E12.
[12] G. Banfi and A. Dolci, “Preanalytical Phase of Sport Biochemistry and Haematology,” The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, Vol. 43, No. 2, 2003, pp. 223-230.
[13] G. Banfi, G. S. Roi, A. Dolci and D. Susta, “Behaviour of Haematological Parameters in Athletes Performing Marathon and Ultramarathon in Altitude (‘skyrunners’),” Clinical Laboratory Haematologica, Vol. 26, No. 6, 2004, pp. 1-5. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2257.2004.00642.x
[14] G. Fragasso, A. Palloshi, S. Roi, E. Rossetti, G. Monaco, A. Dolci, A. Margonato and S. Chierchia, “Transient Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction Following Strenuous Exercise,” Sport Science Health, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2004, pp. 31-35. doi:10.1007/s11332-004-0007-7
[15] M. Marinelli, G. S. Roi, M. Giacometti, P. Bovini and G. Banfi, “Cortisol, Testosterone and Free Testosterone in Athletes Performing a Marathon at 4000 m of Altitude,” Hormon Research, Vol. 41, No. 5-6, 1994, pp. 225-229. doi:10.1159/000183929
[16] G. Pelamatti, M. Pascotto and C. Semenza, “Verbal Free Recall in High Altitude: Proper Names vs Common Names,” Cortex, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2003, pp. 97-103. doi:10.1016/S0010-9452(08)70077-7
[17] C. Murrell, L. Wilson, J. D. Cotter, S. Lucas, S. Ogoh, G. Keith and N. Ainslie, “Alteration in Autonomic Function and Cerebral Hemodynamics to Orthostatic Challenge Following a Mountain Marathon,” Journal Applied Physiology, Vol. 103, No. 1, 2007, pp. 88-96. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01396.2006
[18] J. V. Weil, “Sleep at High Altitude,” In: M. H. Kryger, T. Roth, W. C. Dement, Eds., Principle and Practice of Sleep Medicine, W. B. Sauders Company, Toronto, 1989, pp. 269-276.
[19] T. P. Finnegan, P. Abraham and T. B. Docherty, “Ambulatory Monitoring of the Electroencephalogram in High Altitude Mountaineers,” Electroencephalography & Clinical Neurophysiology, Vol. 60, No. 3, 1985, pp. 220-224. doi:10.1016/0013-4694(85)90034-3
[20] B. Kayser, “Nutrition and Energetics of Exercise at Altitude,” Sports Medicine, Vol. 17, No. 5, 1994, pp. 309-323. doi:10.2165/00007256-199417050-00004
[21] A. Sauty, L. F. Uldry, P. Debetaz, P. Leuenberger and J. W. Fitting, “Differences in PO2 and PCO2 between Arterial and Arterialized Earlobe Samples,” European Respiratory Journal, Vol. 9, No. 2, 1996, pp. 186-189. doi:10.1183/09031936.96.09020186
[22] J. E. Hansen, G. P. Stelter and J. A. Vogel, “Arterial Pyruvate, Lactate, pH and pCO2 during Work at Sea Level and High Altitude,” Journal Applied Physiology, Vol. 23, No. 4, 1967, pp. 523-530.
[23] H. Normand, M. Barragan, O. Benoit, O. Bailliart and J. Raynaud, “Periodic Breathing and O2 Saturation in Relation to Sleep Stages at High Altitude,” Aviation Space Environ Medicine, Vol. 61, No. 3, 1990, pp. 229-235.
[24] B. Kayser, G. Ferretti, B. Grassi, T. Binzoni, P. Ceretelli, “Maximal Lactic Capacity at Altitude: Effect of Bicarbonate Loading,” Journal Applied Physiology, Vol. 75, No. 3, 1995, pp. 1070-1074

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.