Open AccessRapid Acclimatisation to High Altitude by Intermittent Hypoxia Training at Sea Level Role of Biochemical Markers
Author(s) -
Geetha Suryakumar,
Dishari Ghosh,
Richa Rathor,
Gopinath Bhaumik,
Som Nath Singh,
Bhuvnesh Kumar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
defence life science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.135
H-Index - 3
eISSN - 2456-379X
pISSN - 2456-0537
DOI - 10.14429/dlsj.6.16265
Subject(s) - acclimatization , hypoxia (environmental) , effects of high altitude on humans , intermittent hypoxia , medicine , altitude (triangle) , oxidative stress , altitude sickness , physiology , biology , chemistry , oxygen , ecology , anatomy , geometry , mathematics , organic chemistry , obstructive sleep apnea
Rapid induction of soldiers to high altitude under emergency situation may lead to higher incidence of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and other high altitude illness. Intermittent Hypoxia Training (IHT) at sea level before going to high altitude is an approach for rapid acclimatisation. This approach may be helpful to reduce the occurrence of AMS and leads to better acclimatisation at high altitude in shorter duration. The present study evaluates the role of biochemical markers of acclimatisation after IHT before induction to actual high altitude. The study participants were Indian Army Personnel (n=30) and they were divided into two groups of control (n=16) and IHT exposed (n=14). The intermittent hypoxia training was administered at 12 per cent Oxygen for 4h/day for 4 days at sea level using normobaric hypoxia chamber and within 24 hrs - 48 hrs the subjects were airlifted to Leh, Ladakh, India at 11,700 ft. Preconditioning with IHT may be beneficial in maintaining antioxidant levels and ameliorate oxidative stress at high altitude. The hypoxia responsive proteins like Hemeoxygenase -1 (HO-1) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the cytoprotective stress proteins, which facilitate the acclimatisation, may also get benefited by IHT exposure.