Lung oxidative stress as related to exercise and altitude. Lipid peroxidation evidence in exhaled breath condensate: A possible predictor of acute mountain sickness

O. F. Araneda*, C. García, N. Lagos, G. Quiroga, J. Cajigal, M. P. Salazar, C. Behn

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lung oxidative stress (OS) was explored in resting and in exercising subjects exposed to moderate and high altitude. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was collected under field conditions in male high-competition mountain bikers performing a maximal cycloergometric exercise at 670 m and at 2,160 m, as well as, in male soldiers climbing up to 6,125 m in Northern Chile. Malondialdehyde concentration [MDA] was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in EBC and in serum samples. Hydrogen peroxide concentration [H2O2] was analysed in EBC according to the spectrophotometric FOX2 assay. [MDA] in EBC of bikers did not change while exercising at 670 m, but increased from 30.0 ± 8.0 to 50.0 ± 11.0 nmol l-1 (P < 0.05) at 2,160 m. Concomitantly, [MDA] in serum and [H2O2] in EBC remained constant. On the other hand, in mountaineering soldiers, [H2O2] in EBC under resting conditions increased from 0.30 ± 0.12 μmol l-1 at 670 m to 1.14 ± 0.29 μmol l-1 immediately on return from the mountain. Three days later, [H2O2] in EBC (0.93 ± 0.23 μmol l-1) continued to be elevated (P < 0.05). [MDA] in EBC increased from 71 ± 16 nmol l-1 at 670 m to 128 ± 26 nmol l-1 at 3,000 m (P < 0.05). Changes of [H2O2] in EBC while ascending from 670 m up to 3,000 m inversely correlated with concomitant variations in HbO2 saturation (r = -0.48, P < 0.05). AMS score evaluated at 5,000 m directly correlated with changes of [MDA] in EBC occurring while the subjects moved from 670 to 3,000 m (r = 0.51, P < 0.05). Lung OS may constitute a pathogenic factor in AMS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)383-390
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology
Volume95
Issue number5-6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2005
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgements We thank Mr. Luis Pizarro and Mr. Humberto Monsalve for skilful technical help. Valuable facilities for realization of the present work were kindly provided both by Federación Chilena de Ciclismo and by Escuela de los Servicios y Educación Física del Ejército de Chile. Financially, the work was supported by FONDECYT Project Nr. 1000858.

Keywords

  • Acute mountain sickness
  • Exhaled breath condensate
  • Hypobaric hypoxia
  • Lung oxidative stress
  • Physical exercise

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