Effect of Vitamin C Administration on Haematological Adaptation Produced by Intermittent Hypoxic Protocol Combined with Spring Interval Training

Abstract

Intermittent periods of hypoxia (12-16 hours for 3 or 4 weeks) stimulates erythropoiesis with a resulting increase in red blood cells. Training in hypoxic conditions increase the production of reactive oxygen species, damaging the red blood cells by increasing the auto-oxidation of haemoglobyn, as a constant source of superoxide that affect the membrane proteins. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant in human plasma, and generates a protective effect on oxidative stress in animals submitted to intermittent hypoxic protocols, although little is known about the effects of vitamin C administration on hypoxic protocols combined with sprint interval training. The aim of the study was to determine whether the administration of vitamin C modulates the haematological adaptations (expressed in the variables total haemoglobyn, haematocrit, red blood cell, reticulocytes, count, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular haemoglobyn induced by an hypoxic protocol combined with spring i