Blood lactate changes in professional Indian divers under hyperbaric conditions

• Published in: Medical journal. Armed Forces India Vol. 72; no. 1; pp. 38 - 40
• Main Authors: Sikri, Gaurav, Singh, S.P., Srinivasa, A.B., Chaudhry, H.B.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Elsevier B.V 01-01-2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Graded exercise; Hyperbaric conditions; Lactate; Original; Recovery phase; Recovery phase; Graded exercise; Lactate; Hyperbaric conditions
• ISSN: 0377-1237
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2014.12.020

Hyperoxia due to hyperbaric conditions influences lactate metabolism. Previous studies on lactate levels in hyperbaric conditions have reported varied results depending on the depth of evaluation and breathing gas mixture used.
This study compared post-exercise blood lactate levels of Indian professional male divers (breathing ambient air under normobaric conditions) with their post-exercise blood lactate levels measured under simulated hyperbaric conditions.
In the present study, blood lactate levels in divers were found to have decreased significantly during recovery phase of exercise in hyperbaric conditions of dry diving at 2.8Atmospheres Absolute (ATA) as compared to normobaric conditions. A significant improvement was observed in physical performance in terms of HR max and duration of exercise.
This study revealed that hyperoxia due to moderate hyperbaric condition leads to improvement in lactate metabolism in muscles and organs (liver and heart) for its removal.