Pulmonary gas exchange at maximal exercise in Danish lowlanders during 8 wk of acclimatization to 4,100 m and in high-altitude Aymara natives

Abstract

We aimed to test effects of altitude acclimatization on pulmonary gas exchange at maximal exercise. Six lowlanders were studied at sea level, in acute hypoxia (AH), and after 2 and 8 wk of acclimatization to 4,100 m (2W and 8W) and compared with Aymara high-altitude natives residing at this altitude. As expected, alveolar Po2was reduced during AH but increased gradually during acclimatization (61 ± 0.7, 69 ± 0.9, and 72 ± 1.4 mmHg in AH, 2W, and 8W, respectively), reaching values significantly higher than in Aymaras (67 ± 0.6 mmHg). Arterial Po2(PaO2) also decreased during exercise in AH but increased significantly with acclimatization (51 ± 1.1, 58 ± 1.7, and 62 ± 1.6 mmHg in AH, 2W, and 8W, respectively). PaO2in lowlanders reached levels that were not different from those in high-altitude natives (66 ± 1.2 mmHg). Arterial O2saturation (SaO2) decreased during maximum exercise compared with rest in AH and after 2W and 8W: 73.3 ± 1.4, 76.9 ± 1.7, and 79.3 ± 1.6%, respectively. After 8W, SaO2in lowlanders was not significantly different from that in Aymaras (82.7 ± 1%). An improved pulmonary gas exchange with acclimatization was evidenced by a decreased ventilatory equivalent of O2after 8W: 59 ± 4, 58 ± 4, and 52 ± 4 l·min·l O2−1, respectively. The ventilatory equivalent of O2reached levels not different from that of Aymaras (51 ± 3 l·min·l O2−1). However, increases in exercise alveolar Po2and PaO2with acclimatization had no net effect on alveolar-arterial Po2difference in lowlanders (10 ± 1.3, 11 ± 1.5, and 10 ± 2.1 mmHg in AH, 2W, and 8W, respectively), which remained significantly higher than in Aymaras (1 ± 1.4 mmHg). In conclusion, lowlanders substantially improve pulmonary gas exchange with acclimatization, but even acclimatization for 8 wk is insufficient to achieve levels reached by high-altitude natives.