Background/Objective To analyze the effect of altitude on hematological and cardiorespiratory variables in adolescent athletes participating in aerobic disciplines. Methods 21 females and 89 males participated in the study. All were adolescent elite athletes engaged in endurance sports (skating, running and cycling) belonging to two groups: permanent residents in either low altitude (LA, 966 m) or moderate altitude (MA, 2640 m). Hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin concentra- tion ([Hb]), total hemoglobin mass (Hbt), blood, plasma and erythrocyte volumes (BV, PV and EV), VO 2 peak and other cardiorespiratory parameters were evaluated. Results Sex differences were evident both in LA and HA skating practitioners, the males having higher significant values than the females in oxygen transport-related hematological parameters and VO 2 peak. The effect of altitude residence was also observed in Hct, [Hb], Hbt and EV with increased (14%e18%) values in the hematological parameters and higher EV (5%e24%). These results matched the significantly higher values of VO 2 peak measured in MA residents. However, BV and PV did not show differences between LA and MA residents in any case. Sports discipline influenced neither the hematological variables nor most of the cardiorespiratory parameters. Conclusions LA and MA adolescent skaters showed sex differences in hematological variables. Endurance-trained male adolescent residents at MA had an increased erythropoietic response and a higher VO 2 peak compared to their counterparts residing and training at LA. These responses are similar in the three aerobic sports studied, indicating that the variables described are highly sensitive to hypoxia irrespective of the sports discipline.
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