Open AccessHuman physiological and metabolic responses to an attempted winter crossing of Antarctica: the effects of prolonged hypobaric hypoxia.
Author(s) -
O'Brien Katie A.,
Pollock Ross D.,
Stroud Mike,
Lambert Rob J.,
Kumar Alex,
Atkinson Robert A.,
Green David A.,
AntonSolanas Ana,
Edwards Lindsay M.,
Harridge Steve D. R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.13613
Subject(s) - human physiology , medicine , library science , computer science
An insufficient supply of oxygen to the tissues (hypoxia), as is experienced upon high‐altitude exposure, elicits physiological acclimatization mechanisms alongside metabolic remodeling. Details of the integrative adaptive processes in response to chronic hypobaric hypoxic exposure remain to be sufficiently investigated. In this small applied field study, subjects ( n = 5, male, age 28–54 years) undertook a 40 week Antarctica expedition in the winter months, which included 24 weeks residing above 2500 m. Measurements taken pre‐ and postexpedition revealed alterations to glucose and fatty acid resonances within the serum metabolic profile, a 7.8 (±3.6)% increase in respiratory exchange ratio measured during incremental exercise (area under curve, P > 0.01, mean ± SD) and a 2.1(±0.8) % decrease in fat tissue ( P < 0.05) postexpedition. This was accompanied by an 11.6 (±1.9) % increase ( P > 0.001) in V O 2 max corrected to % lean mass postexpedition. In addition, spine bone mineral density and lung function measures were identified as novel parameters of interest. This study provides, an in‐depth characterization of the responses to chronic hypobaric hypoxic exposure in one of the most hostile environments on Earth.