1. THE EFFECT OF VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION ON PERFORMANCE AT ALTITUDE Anonymous Research Methods 27 Jul 04

2. PRIOR RESEARCH Vitamin as an Ergogenic Aid Cureton (1954):Cureton (1954): wheat germ oil with E increased time to exhaustion both running and biking

3. PRIOR RESEARCH Vitamin as an Ergogenic Aid Effect Debunked in 1970s:Effect Debunked in 1970s: –Shepard et al (1974) –Watt et al (1974) –Lawrence et al (1975) –Sharman et al (1976) Confirmation of lack of effect in 1990s:Confirmation of lack of effect in 1990s: –Rokitzki et al (1994) –Nielsen et al (1999)

4. atAltitude PRIOR RESEARCH Vitamin as an Ergogenic Aid at Altitude Kobayashi (1974):Kobayashi (1974): vitamin E (1200 IU/d for 6 wk) group showed a significantly increased aerobic work capacity at altitudes of 1525 meters (by 8.9%) and 4570 meters (by 14.2%)

5. atAltitude PRIOR RESEARCH Vitamin as an Ergogenic Aid at Altitude Kobayashi (1974):Kobayashi (1974): vitamin E (1200 IU/d for 6 wk) group showed a significantly increased aerobic work capacity at altitudes of 1525 meters (by 8.9%) and 4570 meters (by 14.2%) Simon-Schnass and Pabst (1988):Simon-Schnass and Pabst (1988): mountain climbers taking vitamin E (400 mg/d for 10 wks) demonstrated higher lactate thresholds than control group

6. CURRENT RESEARCH Focus on antioxidant properties:Focus on antioxidant properties: –Decreased Muscle Damage –Decreased Lipid Peroxidation –Decreased LDL Oxidation –Prevent, delay, and/or ease AMS No recent studies on acute performanceNo recent studies on acute performance

7. PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to determine whether 30 days of moderate Vitamin E supplementation will improve exercise performance at altitude.

8. RATIONALE Military Applications –Infantry/Artillery/etc. –Fighter Pilots Athletic Applications –Adventure Racers –Cyclists –Runners –Mountaineers

9. HYPOTHESES 1. Fit males who ingest 800 IU/d of Vitamin E for 30 d (E) will exhibit higher VO 2 max scores at 3500m than a control group (C) 2. E will have a higher LT than C at 3500 m 3. E will have higher S a O 2 than C at 3500m E will produce 400 kJ of work more quickly than C at 3500m 4. E will produce 400 kJ of work more quickly than C at 3500m

10. METHODOLOGY Trial 1: @ GLTrial 1: @ GL –VO2max –Lactate Threshold (LT) –Anthropometrics Trial 2: @ 3500mTrial 2: @ 3500m –VO2max, LT –SpO2–SpO2 Trial 3: @ 3500mTrial 3: @ 3500m –Time to produce 400 kJ

11. METHODOLOGY Intervention 1:Intervention 1: –E (n=9): 800 IU vitamin E for 30 d –C (n=9): placebo for 30 d Repeat Trials 2 and 3Repeat Trials 2 and 3 –VO2 max, LT, S p O 2 –Time to produce 400 kJ Intervention 2:Intervention 2: –Subjects switch groups for 30 d Repeat Trials 2 and 3Repeat Trials 2 and 3

12. VARIABLES Independent Variables:Independent Variables: –Vitamin E –Altitude Dependant VariablesDependant Variables –VO2max, LT, S a O 2, –Time to 400 kJ, Rate of Perceived Exertion –Plasma  -tocopherol

13. DVs = VO 2 max, LT, S a O 2 STATISTICS DVs = VO 2 max, LT, S a O 2 IV 2 = Altitude Pre-TestVitamin E 1520mX 1.5P X 1.5E 3500mX 3.5P X 3.5E IV 1 = Supplement Two-Way Analysis of Variance (Repeated Measures) Placebo X 1.5C X 3.5C

14. DVs = Time to 400 kJ, [  -tocopherol] STATISTICS DVs = Time to 400 kJ, [  -tocopherol] Pre-TestVitamin E 3500mXCXC XEXE IV1 = Supplement One-Way Analysis of Variance (Repeated Measures) Placebo XPXP

15. POWER For Power = 0.8, n  17For Power = 0.8, n  17 Meaningful Difference = 10%Meaningful Difference = 10% VO2max @ 3500 m:VO2max @ 3500 m: 50 – 45 = 5 (in ml/kg/min) SD ~ 5 (from Kobayashi) d = 5/5 = 1

16. LIMITATIONS Logistics:Logistics: –18 Subjects x 7 Trials –Altitude Chamber –Subject Compliance –Subject Nutrition Lack of Previous ResearchLack of Previous Research Family-wise Error?Family-wise Error?

17. ANTICIPATED FINDINGS 1. Fit males who ingest 800 IU/d of Vitamin E for 30 d (E) will exhibit higher VO 2 max scores at 3500m than a control group (C) 2. E will have a higher LT than C at 3500 m 3. E will have higher S p O 2 than C at 3500m 4. E will produce 400 kJ of work more quickly than C at 3500m

18. REFERENCES Cureton TK. Effect of wheat germ oil and vitamin E on normal human subjects in physical training programs [abstract]. Am J Physiol. 179: 628, 1954. Kobayashi Y. Effect of vitamin E on aerobic work performance in man during acute exposure to hypoxic hypoxia [dissertation]. Albuquerque (NM): University of New Mexico, 1974. Shephard RJ. Vitamin E and athletic performance. J Sports Med. 23: 461-70, 1983. Simon-Schnass I, Pabst H. Influence of vitamin E on physical performance. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 58: 49-54, 1988. Takanami Y, Iwane H, Kawai Y, Shimomitsu T. Vitamin E supplementation and endurance exercise: are there benefits? Sports Med. 29(2):73-83, 2000.Takanami Y, Iwane H, Kawai Y, Shimomitsu T. Vitamin E supplementation and endurance exercise: are there benefits? Sports Med. 29(2):73-83, 2000.