Abstract

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; FiO(2): 17.2%); and 2) repeated-sprint in normoxia (RSN; N.=6; FiO(2): 20.9%). During 6 weeks, both groups undertook 30 seconds of all-out (130%W-max) followed by 3 minutes of active recovery at 55-65%W-max 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.