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HypoxiaIHOBMPBRNCT06264193

The Impact of Hypoxia on the Biochemical and Morphological Parameters of Blood in Rowers.

A study testing Normobaric hypoxia (LHTL) in people with Hypoxia and Normobaric Hypoxia, run by Poznan University of Physical Education.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The response to hypoxia is very individual and depending on many aspects, such as the type of training, duration, intensity, or hypoxic stimulus, hypoxia affects the athlete in various ways. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Hypoxia, Normobaric Hypoxia
What is being tested?
Normobaric hypoxia (LHTL)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
14 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
30 Nov 2014to 21 Dec 2015
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Men only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male national-team rowers aged ≥18 years.
  • Regular participation in rowing training.
  • Participation in the training camp.

Who cannot join

  • Exposure to hypoxic conditions or altitude above 1500 m within 1 month before the study.
  • Medical contraindications or adverse symptoms associated with hypoxic exposure.
  • Injury or health condition preventing participation in the training program.

About this study

Official title: The Effects of Live High-train Low on EPO, VEGF, and Hematological Variables in Elite Rowers

The response to hypoxia is very individual and depending on many aspects, such as the type of training, duration, intensity, or hypoxic stimulus, hypoxia affects the athlete in various ways. This multi-stage study investigated hematological and physiological responses to normobaric Live High-Train Low (LHTL) exposure in elite male rowers from the Polish national rowing team. Stage I evaluated responses during an 18-day LHTL intervention, whereas Stage II evaluated responses during a 14-day LHTL intervention and extended the assessment to 42 days after return to normoxia. The study focused particularly on hematological variables, erythropoietin (EPO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and other physiological and biochemical responses associated with hypoxic exposure.

Read the detailed description

I stage. The Polish national rowing team athletes, 13 males, were randomly divided into two groups:

  1. The hypoxic group (H) included 8 rowers participating in sports training and the LHTL intervention, with progressive normobaric hypoxic exposure corresponding to simulated altitudes of 2000, 2500, and 3000 m.
  2. The control group (C) consisted of 5 rowers participating only in sports training and living in normoxic rooms at the same sports camp. Rowers were observed during the preparatory period. The hypoxic group lived and slept in hypoxic rooms for at least 8-14 hours per day. During the camp, all rowers followed the same training schedule and diet. All participants' saturation and heart rate were measured daily, morning and evening, throughout the camp period. Venous blood samples were taken four times, at the beginning of the camp (Baseline), after 6 days, after 12 days, and after 18 days of the camp. Body composition parameters such as body mass index, body fat, and free fat mass were estimated using the bioelectrical impedance method of a Tanita BC 418 analyzer (Japan). Data analysis was performed using Statistica. The response to hypoxia is very individual. Depending on many factors, such as training type, duration, intensity, or hypoxic stimulus, hypoxia affects athletes in various ways. The results of this study have shown that the blood parameters did not increase significantly in the hypoxic group compared to the control group. However, reticulocytes, immature red blood cells, have shown significant differences after 18-d LHTL between groups. Further research should be carried out to investigate an optimal hypoxic dose and time, which will raise EPO, VEGF, and morphology variables.

II stage. Fourteen elite male rowers from the Polish national rowing team participated in the second stage and were randomly allocated to the LHTL group (n = 8) or the normoxic control group (n = 6). Both groups followed the same standardized training program. The LHTL intervention lasted 14 consecutive days and involved progressive normobaric hypoxic exposure corresponding to 2000-3000 m for approximately 14-16 h/day, while all training sessions were performed under normoxic conditions. Blood samples were collected at baseline, after 7 and 14 days of the intervention, and 8, 14, and 42 days after completion. Hematological variables, EPO, VEGF, iron-related indices, CK activity, and lipid-profile variables were assessed, while SpO₂ and resting HR were monitored throughout the intervention.

Being tested
Normobaric hypoxia (LHTL)
Keywords
hypoxia, rowers, exercise, EPO, athletes, LH-TL, hematological adaptation, elite athletes
Medical subject headings
Hypoxia, Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Normobaric hypoxia (LHTL)Other

    Participants lived in normobaric hypoxic rooms for 14-16 h per day while completing their regular training under normoxic conditions. The simulated altitude was progressively increased during the intervention.

Study groups in NCT06264193
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
LHTLExperimentalParticipants assigned to the LHTL group underwent their regular sports training while living in normobaric hypoxic rooms.
Receives: Other: Normobaric hypoxia (LHTL)
Control groupNo interventionParticipants assigned to the control group completed the same sports training as the LHTL group while living in normoxic conditions at the same training camp.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Erythropoietin (EPO) mlU/ml

    immunoenzymatic assay methods using diagnostic kits

    Measured: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention. Stage 2: at baseline, on days 7 and 14 of the intervention, and at 8, 14, and 42 days after the intervention.

  2. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mlU/ml

    immunoenzymatic assay methods using diagnostic kits

    Measured: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention. Stage 2: at baseline, on days 7 and 14 of the intervention, and at 8, 14, and 42 days after the intervention.

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Creatine kinase (CK) ng/ml

    was determined using spectrophotometer analysis and diagnostic kits

    Measured: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention. Stage 2: at baseline, on days 7 and 14 of the intervention, and at 8, 14, and 42 days after the intervention.

  2. Hs C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) mg/L

    was determined by immunoenzymatic assay methods using diagnostic kits

    Measured: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention.

  3. Hemoglobin (Hb)g/dL

    A professional accredited laboratory company determined the Hb level (Poland, ISO 9001:2008).

    Measured: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention. Stage 2: at baseline, on days 7 and 14 of the intervention, and at 8, 14, and 42 days after the intervention.

  4. Hematocrit (Htc)%

    A professional accredited laboratory company determined the Htc level (Poland, ISO 9001:2008).

    Measured: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention. Stage 2: at baseline, on days 7 and 14 of the intervention, and at 8, 14, and 42 days after the intervention.

  5. Red blood cells (RBC)mln/mm3

    A professional accredited laboratory company determined the RBC level (Poland, ISO 9001:2008).

    Measured: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention. Stage 2: at baseline, on days 7 and 14 of the intervention, and at 8, 14, and 42 days after the intervention.

  6. White blood cells (WBC)10 3/µL

    A professional accredited laboratory company determined the WBC level (Poland, ISO 9001:2008).

    Measured: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention. Stage 2: at baseline, on days 7 and 14 of the intervention, and at 8, 14, and 42 days after the intervention.

  7. Reticulocytes (Ret)‰

    A professional accredited laboratory company determined the Ret level (Poland, ISO 9001:2008).

    Measured: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention. Stage 2: at baseline, on days 7 and 14 of the intervention, and at 8, 14, and 42 days after the intervention.

  8. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) (%)

    Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) was measured non-invasively using a pulse oximeter (Tech-Med, ISO 13485). Measurements were performed twice daily, in the morning and evening, throughout each sports camp in both study groups.

    Measured: Stage 1: daily from Day 1 through Day 18 of the intervention, in the morning after waking and in the evening before bedtime; Stage 2: daily from Day 1 through Day 14 of the intervention, in the morning after waking and in the evening before bedtime.

  9. Heart rate (HR) (beats/min)

    Heart rate (HR) was measured using a pulse oximeter (Tech-Med, ISO 13485). Measurements were performed twice daily, in the morning and evening, throughout each sports camp in both study groups.

    Measured: Stage 1: daily from Day 1 through Day 18 of the intervention; Stage 2: daily from Day 1 through Day 14 of the intervention.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Feb 2024
  2. Study start30 Nov 2014
  3. Primary completion21 Dec 2015
  4. Study completion21 Dec 2015

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Participants were assigned to two parallel groups: an LHTL group, which completed the same sports training while living in normobaric hypoxic conditions, and a control group, which completed the same training while living in normoxic conditions. The hypoxic exposure protocol differed between Stage I and Stage II as described in the study protocol.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
14 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06264193
Sponsor's protocol ID
Rowers LH-TL
Acronym
IHOBMPBR
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
10 Jan 2024
Last updated
21 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data will not be shared due to participant confidentiality and data protection considerations.

Publications

  • Kasperska A, Zembron-Lacny A. The effect of intermittent hypoxic exposure on erythropoietic response and hematological variables in elite athletes. Physiol Res. 2020 Apr 30;69(2):283-290. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.934316. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

    PubMed 32199016
  • Wilber RL. Application of altitude/hypoxic training by elite athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007 Sep;39(9):1610-24. doi: 10.1249/mss.0b013e3180de49e6.

    PubMed 17805095
  • Czuba M, Fidos-Czuba O, Ploszczyca K, Zajac A, Langfort J. Comparison of the effect of intermittent hypoxic training vs. the live high, train low strategy on aerobic capacity and sports performance in cyclists in normoxia. Biol Sport. 2018 Mar;35(1):39-48. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2018.70750. Epub 2017 Oct 11.

    PubMed 30237660
  • Ploszczyca K, Langfort J, Czuba M. The Effects of Altitude Training on Erythropoietic Response and Hematological Variables in Adult Athletes: A Narrative Review. Front Physiol. 2018 Apr 11;9:375. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00375. eCollection 2018.

    PubMed 29695978
  • Kasperska A, Dziewiecka H, Jankowski W, Mikulski T, Czerniec I, Skarpanska-Stejnborn A, Ostapiuk-Karolczuk J. Hematological, inflammatory, and hypoxia-responsive adaptations to 18-day normobaric live high-train low training in elite rowers. Front Physiol. 2026 May 13;17:1834329. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2026.1834329. eCollection 2026.

    PubMed 42222289

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Normobaric hypoxia (LHTL) in people with Hypoxia and Normobaric Hypoxia, run by Poznan University of Physical Education.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Erythropoietin (EPO) mlU/ml (time frame: Stage 1: at baseline and on days 6, 12, and 18 of the intervention. Stage 2: at baseline, on days 7 and 14 of the intervention, and at 8, 14, and 42 days after the intervention.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06264193, which also lists 5 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Sep 2026.

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