Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41739164›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of applied physiology2026

Hemoglobin mass and plasma volume responses are not different between lowlanders and Tibetan highlanders during early acclimatization to 4300 m.

Janne Bouten, Anne Kalker, Jessica A Dickenson, Rodion Isakovich, Benjamin W L Mackenzie, Nicholas D J Strzalkowski, Pontus Holmström, Taylor S Harman, Ajaya J Kunwar, Nilam Thakur and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of applied physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Janne BoutenLaboratory of Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370), French Institute of Sport (INSEP), Paris, France. janne_bouten@hotmail.com.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5649-2863
Anne KalkerRadboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
Jessica A DickensonDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Rodion IsakovichDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Benjamin W L MackenzieDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Nicholas D J StrzalkowskiDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Pontus HolmströmDepartment of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.
Taylor S HarmanDepartment of Anthropology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Ajaya J KunwarKathmandu Center for Genomics and Research Laboratory, Global Hospital, Gwarko, Lalitpur, Nepal.
Nilam ThakurKathmandu Center for Genomics and Research Laboratory, Global Hospital, Gwarko, Lalitpur, Nepal.
Sunil DhungelCollege of Medicine, Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Nima SherpaGlory of Nepal Travels and Tours, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Abigail W BighamDepartment of Anthropology, University of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Tom D Brutsaert *Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Trevor A Day *Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Funding

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada RGPIN-2016-04915United States National Science Foundation 2216548
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDuring ascent to and residence at high altitude, plasma volume (PV) is reduced, and hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) subsequently increases, protecting blood oxygen content. Acclimatized native Tibetan highlanders (TH, i.e., Sherpa ethnic group) residing at high altitude are known to have higher PV than lowlanders (LL), reducing blood viscosity. However, little is known about differences in PV and Hbmass responses between unacclimatized TH and LL during early acclimatization. We aimed to compare PV and Hbmass between acclimatizing TH and LL during an ascent to high altitude over 8–9 days.

methodsWe recruited age- and sex-matched unacclimatized participants at 1400 m (14TH, 14LL), who performed a 5-day incremental ascent to 4300 m. Before ascent (1400 m) and on days 8–9 of the expedition (days 3–4 after arrival at 4300 m), venous blood samples were obtained for hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]). Hbmass and blood volumes were determined via CO-rebreathing.

resultsAt 1400 m, there were no differences between groups in [Hb], Hbmass, and blood volumes normalized for body weight (P ≥ 0.24). Relative PV was decreased at 4300 m (40.9 ± 4.5 to 34.1 ± 5.5 mL.kg−1, P = 0.001, d = − 0.90), while there was a trivial increase in relative Hbmass (9.76 ± 1.82 to 10.00 ± 1.99 g.kg−1, p = 0.0494, d = 0.12). These led to an increase in [Hb] (131 ± 11 to 149 ± 10 g.dL−1, P = 0.001, d = 1.33). These changes were similar for both groups (interaction effect: P > 0.80).

conclusionHematological changes during early acclimatization did not differ between acclimatizing TH and LL, indicating that hematological acclimatization is not a differentiating physiological factor during early ascent to high altitude.

Indexed as

AcclimatizationAltitudeHemoglobinsPlasma VolumeAdultFemaleHumansMaleTibetHemoglobinsAcclimatizationBlood volumeErythropoiesisHigh altitudeNative highlanders

Identifiers

PMID41739164

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.