Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the synergistic effects of repeated sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) and beta-alanine supplementation on performance in recreationally active men. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: hypoxia + beta-alanine (HB, n = 10), hypoxia + placebo (HP, n = 9), normoxia + beta-alanine (NB, n = 11) and normoxia + placebo (NP, n = 8). All participants completed a total of 8 training sessions (each consisting of 3 sets of 5 × 10-s sprints at a resistance of 7.5% of body mass, with 20-s rest intervals between sprints) over 4 weeks on a cycle ergometer either in hypoxia (Oxygen fraction: FiO2 = 14.2%) or normoxia (FiO2 = 20.9%). Participants were instructed to consume a daily dosage of 6.4g (two 800 mg tablets ingested 4 times per day at 3-4 hour intervals) of either beta-alanine or placebo. Changes in performance in a graded exercise test (GXT), repeated sprint test (RST) and 3-min all-out test (3MT) were examined before and after 28-days of training and supplementation. Aerobic performance was measured by maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), peak power output (PPO). Exercise intolerance was assessed from critical power (CP), oxygen consumption (VO2RCP) and power output (PRCP) at respiratory compensation point. Exercise capacity was measured by total work (TW) during 3MT. Anaerobic capacity was evaluated via anaerobic working capacity (AWC), heart rate response to RST (RST_HR60) and lactate responses to RST (RST_La) and 3MT (3MT_La). Repeated sprint performance was estimated through average power output of the last sprint (RST_AP5) and all sprints (RST_AP). No between-group differences were observed for training volume or supplementation compliance. Anthropometric and hematological measures remain unchanged before and after intervention in all groups. A main effect of altitude was shown for VO2RCP, PRCP, RST_AP5, RST_HR60, and TW, with post-intervention values in the hypoxia groups significantly (p < 0.05) higher (lower for RST_HR60) than the normoxia groups. A main effect of beta-alanine was detected in AWC, with post-intervention values in the beta-alanine groups being significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the placebo groups. Results of this investigation demonstrated that RSH and beta-alanine benefit performance from different perspectives. RSH improved aerobic performance, exercise tolerance, cardiovascular recovery and exercise capacity, while beta-alanine supplementation maintained anaerobic working capacity in recreationally-trained men during the four-week repeated sprint training intervention.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2017

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Hoffman, Jay

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Education and Human Performance

Degree Program

Education; Exercise Physiology

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0006961

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0006961

Language

English

Release Date

11-15-2018

Length of Campus-only Access

1 year

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

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