Changes in energy system contributions to the Wingate anaerobic test in climbers after a high altitude expedition.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Prospective pre-post study in a single small cohort without a control group
PubMed 32494861 · doi:10.1007/s00421-020-04392-8
What was done
Seven male climbers performed a 30-second Wingate anaerobic test before and after a 43-day Himalayan expedition that included 23 days above 5,000 m. The authors measured mechanical output (peak power, average power, minimum power, and fatigue index) and calculated energy contributions: aerobic work (from oxygen uptake during exercise), lactic anaerobic work (from net lactate production), and alactic anaerobic work (from the fast component of post-exercise oxygen uptake kinetics).
What was found
Peak power fell from 7.3 ± 1.1 to 6.7 ± 1.1 W/kg and average power decreased from 5.9 ± 0.7 to 5.4 ± 0.8 W/kg, while the fatigue index did not change. Total metabolic work declined from 103.9 ± 28.7 to 83.8 ± 17.8 kJ. The relative aerobic contribution was essentially unchanged (19.9 ± 4.8% vs. 18.3 ± 2.3%), whereas the relative anaerobic lactic contribution decreased from 48.3 ± 11.7% to 43.1 ± 8.9% and the relative anaerobic alactic contribution rose from 31.8 ± 14.5% to 38.6 ± 7.4%.
Why it matters
The study shows that chronic severe high-altitude exposure reduces both mechanical power output and total metabolic capacity, selectively decreasing glycolytic energy contribution during maximal sprint cycling.
Limits
The sample size is very small (n = 7) and restricted entirely to male climbers. There was no control group to account for potential confounders such as expedition-related fatigue, nutritional deficit, muscle wasting, or physical detraining over the 43 days.
Cited by
- supports During an all-out 30-second Wingate anaerobic test, the majority of energy is produced via anaerobic (non-oxidative) metabolism.