Abstract
In the present communication, effect of low doses of phosphate supplementation on short-term high altitude adaptation has been examined. Studies were carried out in 36 healthy, male, sea-level residents divided in a double blind fashion into drug and placebo treated groups. 3.2 mmol of phosphate were given orally to each subject of the drug treated group once a day for 4 days on arrival at an altitude of 3,500 m. Sequential studies were done in the subjects in both groups on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 21st day of their altitude stay. Haemoglobin, haematocrit, erythrocyte and reticulocyte counts increased to the similar extent in both groups. Blood pH, pO2 and adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP) did not differ between the two groups. On 3rd day of the altitude stay, inorganic phosphate and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3 DPG) levels in the drug treated group increased significantly as compared to the placebo group. No significant difference in inorganic phosphate and 2,3 DPG was observed later on in the two groups. Psychological and clinical tests also indicated that the drug treated subjects felt better as compared to the placebo treated subjects. The present study suggests that low doses of phosphate increases circulating 2,3-DPG concentration which in turn brings about beneficial effect towards short term high altitude adaptation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BRAIN, M. C. and CARD, R. T. (1972): Effect of inorganic phosphate on red cell metabolism — In vitro and in vivo studies. In: Haemoglobin and Red cell Structure and Function. G. J. Brewer (ed.), Plenum Press, New York, 145–154.
CADE, R., CONTE, M., ZAUNER, C., MARS, D., PETERSON, J., LUNNE, D., HOMMER, N. and PACKER, D. (1984): Effects of phosphate loading on 2,3-DPG-diphosphoglycerate and maximal oxygen uptake. Med. Sci. Sports Excerc. 16: 263–268.
CHANUTIN, A. and CURNISH, R. R. (1967): Effect of organic and inorganic phosphates on the oxygen equilibrium of human erythrocytes. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 121: 96–102.
DELSEL, J. L. and MANHOURI, H. (1974): Inorganic phosphate. In: Microanalysis in Medical Biochemistry. I.D.P. Wootton, Churchill, London, 70–71.
DEMPSEY, J. A., RODRIQUEZ, J., SHAHIDI, N. T., REDDAU, W. G. and MACDOUGALL, J. D. (1971): Muscular exercise, 2,3-DPG and oxy-hemoglobin affinity. Int. Z. Physiol. 30: 34–39.
EATON, J. W., BREWER, G. J. and GROVER, E. F. (1969): Role of red cell 2,3- diphosphoglycerate in the adaptation of man to altitude. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 73: 603–609.
HOBBS, J. H. (1968): Total blood volume: Its measurement and significance. Med. Monograph Nr. 3. The Radiochemical Centre, Amersham.
LENFANT, C., TORRANCE, J., ENGLISH, E., FINCH, C. A., REYNAFARJE, C., RAMOS, J. and FAURA, J. (1968): Effect of altitude on oxygen binding by hemoglobin and on organic phosphate levels. J. Clin. Invest. 47: 2652–2656.
LENFANT, C., TORRANCE, J. and REYNAFARJE, C. (1971): Shift of the O2-Hb dissociation curve at altitude: Mechanism and effect. J. Appl. Physiol. 30: 625–631.
MOORE, L. G. and BREWER, G. J. (1981): Beneficial effect of rightward hemoglobin — oxygen dissociation curve shift for short term high altitude adaptation. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 98: 145–154.
MOORE, L. G., BREWER, G. J., OELSHLEGEL, F. J. and ROSE, A. M. (1973): Pharmacologic stimulation of red cell metabolism for high altitude adaptation. In: Oxygen Transport to Tissue. D. Bruley and H. Bicher (eds.), Plenum Press, New York, 693–698.
MOORE, L. G., BREWER, G. J., OELSHLEGEL, F. J., BREWER, L. F., and SCHOOMAKER, E. B. (1977): Pharmacologic stimulation of erythrocyte 2,3- diphosphoglycerate production in vivo. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 203: 722–728.
ROSE, Z. B., and LIEBOWITZ, J. (1970): 2,3-diphosphoglycerate phosphatase from human erythrocytes. J. Biol. Chem. 245: 3232–3241.
SHARMA, V. M., PICHAN, G. and PANWAR, M. R. (1983): Differential effects of hot humid and hot dry environments on mental functions. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health. 52: 315–322.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jain, S.C., Singh, M.V., Rawal, S.B. et al. Effect of phosphate supplementation on oxygen delivery at high altitude. Int J Biometeorol 31, 249–257 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02188928
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02188928