TY - JOUR

T1 - Microdoses of recombinant human erythropoietin enhance time trial performance in trained males and females

AU - Breenfeldt Andersen, Andreas

AU - Graae, Jonathan

AU - Bejder, Jacob

AU - Bonne, Thomas Christian

AU - Seier, Søren

AU - Debertin, Maren

AU - Eibye, Kasper

AU - Hostrup, Morten

AU - Nordsborg, Nikolai Baastrup

N1 - Copyright © 2022 by the American College of Sports Medicine.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Purpose: We investigated the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) administration on exercise endurance, maximal aerobic performance and total hemoglobin mass (tHb). We hypothesized that frequent, small intravenous injections of epoetin β would increase time trial performance, peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) and tHb in both males and females.Methods: We included 48 healthy, recreational to trained males (n = 24, mean ± standard deviation V̇O2peak of 55 ± 5 ml O2 × kg-1 × min-1) and females (n = 24; V̇O2peak of 46 ± 4 ml O2 × kg-1 × min-1) in a counter-balanced, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study design stratified by sex. Time trial performance, V̇O2peak, and tHb were determined before and after intravenous injections of either rHuEPO (9 IU × kg bw-1 epoetin β) or saline (0.9% NaCl) three times weekly for 4 weeks.Results: A time × treatment effect (P < 0.05) existed for time trial performance. Within the rHuEPO group, mean power output (MPO) increased by 4.1 ± 4.2% (P < 0.001). Likewise, a time × treatment effect (P < 0.001) existed for V̇O2peak, where the rHuEPO group improved V̇O2peak and peak aerobic power by 4.2 ± 6.1% (P < 0.001) and 2.9 ± 4.0% (P < 0.01), respectively. A time × treatment effect (P < 0.001) existed for tHb, where the rHuEPO group increased tHb by 6.7 ± 3.4% (P < 0.001). A main effect of 'sex' alone was also evident (P < 0.001) but no sex-specific interactions were found. No changes were observed in the placebo group for MPO, V̇O2peak, peak aerobic power or tHb.Conclusion: Microdoses with intravenous rHuEPO provide a sufficient erythropoietic stimuli to augment tHb and enhance aerobic-dominated performance in both trained males and females.

AB - Purpose: We investigated the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) administration on exercise endurance, maximal aerobic performance and total hemoglobin mass (tHb). We hypothesized that frequent, small intravenous injections of epoetin β would increase time trial performance, peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) and tHb in both males and females.Methods: We included 48 healthy, recreational to trained males (n = 24, mean ± standard deviation V̇O2peak of 55 ± 5 ml O2 × kg-1 × min-1) and females (n = 24; V̇O2peak of 46 ± 4 ml O2 × kg-1 × min-1) in a counter-balanced, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study design stratified by sex. Time trial performance, V̇O2peak, and tHb were determined before and after intravenous injections of either rHuEPO (9 IU × kg bw-1 epoetin β) or saline (0.9% NaCl) three times weekly for 4 weeks.Results: A time × treatment effect (P < 0.05) existed for time trial performance. Within the rHuEPO group, mean power output (MPO) increased by 4.1 ± 4.2% (P < 0.001). Likewise, a time × treatment effect (P < 0.001) existed for V̇O2peak, where the rHuEPO group improved V̇O2peak and peak aerobic power by 4.2 ± 6.1% (P < 0.001) and 2.9 ± 4.0% (P < 0.01), respectively. A time × treatment effect (P < 0.001) existed for tHb, where the rHuEPO group increased tHb by 6.7 ± 3.4% (P < 0.001). A main effect of 'sex' alone was also evident (P < 0.001) but no sex-specific interactions were found. No changes were observed in the placebo group for MPO, V̇O2peak, peak aerobic power or tHb.Conclusion: Microdoses with intravenous rHuEPO provide a sufficient erythropoietic stimuli to augment tHb and enhance aerobic-dominated performance in both trained males and females.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Doping

KW - Elite-sport

KW - Hematology

KW - Endurance

KW - Blood doping

U2 - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003052

DO - 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003052

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36317927

VL - 55

SP - 311

EP - 321

JO - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

JF - Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise

SN - 0195-9131

IS - 2

ER -