@misc{10481/108292,
year = {2025},
month = {11},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10481/108292},
abstract = {Background/Objectives: High-altitude hypoxia may affect ECG readings, but it is unclear whether the “live-low–train-high” approach prevents these changes in winter sports
athletes. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed cardiovascular parameters in
102 winter-sport athletes (mean age 20 ± 4 y; 57% women), divided by training altitude into
a high-altitude (HA) group (2500–3300 m, n = 70; skiers/snowboarders) and a low-altitude
(LA) group (738 m, n = 32; ice hockey/figure skaters). Mid-season assessments included
resting ECG, blood pressure, blood biochemistry, and three 24 h dietary recalls. Results: All
ECG parameters were physiological, and no significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed
in heart rate, PR interval, or QTc between groups. However, HA group exhibited higher
systolic blood pressure and a short QT interval. Lactate was significantly higher in HA
(p = 0.028). The HA diet contained more saturated fat (p < 0.001), cholesterol (p = 0.013),
magnesium (p = 0.003) and potassium (p = 0.001), whereas LA athletes consumed more
glucose (p = 0.024). In HA, total energy expenditure correlated positively (p ≥ 0.05) with
QRS (ρ = 0.52) and QT (ρ = 0.56), while heart rate correlated inversely with vitamin D
(ρ = −0.59). In LA, QTc showed strong inverse correlations with zinc (ρ = −0.62) and selenium (ρ = −0.85). Conclusions: This finding suggests that intermittent high-altitude
training did not alter ECG patterns when nutrient intake was adequate. High lactate level
and specific nutrient correlations point to a residual physiological load and a modulatory
role of electrolytes, B-vitamins, and vitamin D on cardiac repolarisation.},
organization = {High Council for Sports (CSD) - Spanish Ministry of Culture and Sport (Ref. 19/UPB/23)},
organization = {Instituto de Salud Carlos III / CIBEROBN / European Regional Development Fund (CIBEROBN CB12/03/30038)},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {ECG},
keywords = {Training high},
keywords = {Hypoxia},
title = {Differences in Cardiovascular, Biochemical and Nutritional Parameters Between High- and Low-Altitude Winter Sports Athletes},
doi = {10.3390/nu17233665},
author = {Jiménez Casquet, María José and Conde Pipó, Javier and Tur, Josep A. and Mariscal Arcas, Miguel},
}