Enhanced physical performance through hemoconcentration?

Abstract

Hemoconcentration was induced by administration of oral Furosemide in a group of healthy athletes. Before and after this treatment a variety of hemorheological variables was measured. Simultaneously the time needed to reach the anaerobic threshold during a standardized ergometer test was recorded. The results show that the changes in blood rheology correlate with the changes in threshold – the more hemoconcentration, the more prolongation of the time to reach the threshold. This suggests that athletes may benefit in terms of performance by hemoconcentration. The findings support the hypothesis that the optimal hematocrit for oxygen transport rate is higher than normal when average shear stress in the circulation is high such as in athletes. Conversely it may be lower than normal when shear stress is low like distal to a stenosis in occlusive arterial diseases.