Beidleman, B. A., Fulco, C. S., Zupan, M. F., Muza, S. R., Rock, P. B., Payn, T., Hannon, M., & Cymerman, A. (2005). Sea level and moderate altitude residents experience a similar decrement in VO2peak upon ascent to 4300 m. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(5), Supplement abstract 1555.

Moderate-altitude (2200 m) residents (M = 9; F = 7) completed a peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) test on a cycle ergometer at 2200 m and after 24 hours of residence at 4300 m. Results were compared to published research on similar-age sea-level residents exposed to hypoxia at 2200 and 4300 m.

The moderate altitude residents demonstrated a similar decrement in VO2peak and HRpeak upon ascent from 2200 to 4300m as that reported for sea-level residents.

Implication. Living at altitude does not prepare or develop an advantage for living at higher altitudes when compared to the responses of sea-level adapted individuals.

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