Breath-hold training of humans reduces oxidative stress and blood acidosis after static and dynamic apnea.

Repeated epochs of breath-holding were superimposed to the regular training cycling program of triathletes to reproduce the adaptative responses to hypoxia, already described in elite breath-hold divers [Respir. Physiol. Neurobiol. 133 (2002) 121]. Before and after a 3-month breath-hold training program, we tested the response to static apnea and to a 1-min dynamic forearm exercise executed during apnea (dynamic apnea). The breath-hold training program did not modify the maximal performances measured during an incremental cycling exercise. After training, the duration of static apnea significantly lengthened and the associated bradycardia was accentuated; we also noted a reduction of the post-apnea decrease in venous blood pH and increase in lactic acid concentration, and the suppression of the post-apnea oxidative stress (increased concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances). After dynamic apnea, the blood acidosis was reduced and the oxidative stress no more occurred. These results suggest that the practice of breath-holding improves the tolerance to hypoxemia independently from any genetic factor.