Method

Twelve subjects (Ss) completed maximal exercise treadmill testing in a comfortable (Ta = 20 degrees C, Tdp = 9 degrees C) environment. Six Ss were later transfused with a 600 ml autologous red blood cell (50% Hct) NaCl glucose-phosphate solution and completed identical maximal exercise tests 3 and 10 d posttransfusion.

Results

Pretransfusion, the 12 Ss had a maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of 4.36 +/- 0.56 L . min-1 and 55 +/- 4 ml . kg-1 . min-1 with a heart rate of 188 +/- 10 b . min-1 and ventilatory equivalent for oxygen of 37 +/- 3. For the 6 reinfused Ss, hemoglobin and red cell volume (RCV) increased by 10% (p less than 0.05) and 11% (p less than 0.05), respectively, posttransfusion. Reinfusion increased (p less than 0.05) VO2max from 4.28 +/- 0.22 L . min-1 (54 +/- 5 ml . kg-1 . min-1) to 4.75 +/- 0.42 L . min-1 (60 +/- 6 ml . kg-1 . min-1) and 4.63 +/- 0.21 L . min-1 (59 +/- 6 ml . kg-1 . min-1) at 3 and 10 d posttransfusion, respectively.

No significant relationship was found between the individual change in RCV and VO2max values pre- to posttransfusion.

Conclusion

We conclude that Special Forces soldiers have high levels of aerobic fitness that can be further increased by blood reinfusion for at least 10 d.

Source: Muza, S.R., Sawka, M.N., Young, A.J., Dennis, R.C., Gonzalez, R.R., Martin, J.W., Pandolf, K.B. & Valeri, C.R. (1987) Elite Special Forces: Physiological Description and Ergogenic Influence of Blood Reinfusion. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 58(10), pp.1001-1004.