Repeated-sprint training under cyclic hypoxia improves body composition in healthy women.

BACKGROUND: To investigate if the cyclic hypoxia exposure combined with Repeat- sprints training would be more effective in reducing body fat of health women than the same protocols performed in normoxia.

METHODS: Twelve female volunteers were randomly divided into two groups: (1) Repeated-sprint in hypoxia (RSH; n=6; FiO2: 17.2%) and (2) Repeated-sprint in normoxia (RSN; n=6; FiO2: 20.9%). During 6 weeks, both groups undertook 30 seconds of all-out (130%Wmax) followed by 3 minutes of active recovery at 55-65%Wmax on a cycle ergometer. Anthropometric, body composition and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and after intervention.

RESULTS: RSH experimented a greater significant decrease of body mass index (p=0.017) and percentage of fat mass (p=0.05) respect to normoxia group. Total cholesterol of RSN experimented a significant (p=0.001) reduction (-12.66 ± 14.35) compared with RSH (24.00 ± 14.61).

CONCLUSIONS: Repeated-sprint training under normobaric cyclic hypoxia during 6- weeks could be a more effective prevention program because it causes a higher decrease in body mass index and fat mass compared with the same training in normoxic conditions in healthy women.