CVAC Systems - Cyclic Variations in Altitude Conditioning

Stanford University/Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS)
Anne L. Friedlander, PhD., Director of the Major Project on Mobility within the Stanford Center on Longevity and Director of the Exercise Physiology Lab in the Clinical Studies Unit at the VAPAHCS.

Human Performance Specialists-Tempe, Arizona
Thomas Incledon, PhD(c), RD, LD, LN, RPT, NSCA-CPT, CSCS

Scottsdale Cardiovascular Research and Heart Failure Institute-Scottsdale, Arizona
Krishnaswami Vijayaraghavan, MD, MS, FACC, FACP

Current Research Programs

Metabolic Syndrome

A recent occurrence has provided early evidence to support the initiation of research for another therapeutic application of the cyclic variations in altitude conditioning process. To discuss this confidentially, contact Allen Ruszkowkski at 951-699-2086.

Previous Research Programs

University of Hawaii

Researchers at the University of Hawaii have collected first-in-man scientific data on Cyclic Variations in Altitude Conditioning™ (CVAC™). The abstract was published, and presented at the 2006 American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting. Currently, the data acquired remains confidential in anticipation of publication, but the data can be shared contingent upon execution of an appropriate agreement of non-disclosure.

Please contact Allen Ruszkowski at 951-699-2086 or Lawrence Burgess, MD 808-692-1091 or click here to contact us by email.

The Effect of a Cyclic Variable Altitude Conditioning Program on Arterial Oxygen Saturation Acclimation

Abstract:
Acclimation to altitude using a portable hypobaric chamber at sea level may decrease the incidence of acute altitude sickness and improve physical and mental performance when traveling from sea level to altitude. PURPOSE: This study examined the effect of a cyclic variable altitude conditioning program involving intermittent hypoxic exposure at sea level, using a portable hypobaric chamber, on arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) at the following altitudes: 2740, 3660, 4570, 5490, and 6,400 M. METHODS: Eight aerobically trained subjects completed a hypoxic training protocol that progressively exposed them to higher altitudes. Subjects acclimated for one hour per day, five days per week, for seven weeks. The highest altitude was 3200 M in the first week, 4420 M in the third week and progressed to 6860 M for the final three weeks of exposure. The SaO2 values were determined using a pulse oximeter equipped with an ear sensor prior to beginning the conditioning program (week 1) and after week 3, prior to week 4 and after week 7 of conditioning. RESULTS: Mean ± STD SaO2 values prior to conditioning were 98 ± 0 % at sea level. The following table presents the lowest SaO2 values recorded prior to and after conditioning at five altitudes.

Week	2740 M>	3360 M>	4570 M	2740 M	4570 M
1	90.4 ± 3.8 %	86.0 ± 4.1 %	80.9 ± 4.9 %	88.3 ± 4.6 %	78.9 ± 6.2 %
3	94.3 ± 1.4 %	90.3 ± 2.1 %	86.0 ± 3.2 %	93.1 ± 3.1 %	86.1 ± 3.5 %
Week	4570 M>	5490 M>	6400 M	4570 M	6400 M
4	87.8 ± 2.6 %	82.1 ± 3.7 %	73.9 ± 4.0 %	84.3 ± 5.6 %	72.0 ± 6.0 %
7	89.5 ± 2.3 %	85.1 ± 4.1 %	79.4 ± 5.6 %	87.5 ± 5.2 %	79.4 ± 5.3 %

An ANOVA for repeated measures revealed significant differences between SaO2 values between weeks 1 and 3, and weeks 4 and 7 (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: It was concluded that cyclic variable altitude conditioning resulted in an acclimation response such that arterial SaO2 was significantly increased at altitude.

Authors:
Ronald K. Hetzler, FACSM, Ryan W. Sargent, Iris F. Kimura, Lawrence Burgess, Michelle LaBotz, Andrew Nichols, FACSM, Kenneth Nakasone. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.
View original abstract

Stanford University/Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS)
An initial research study investigating the clinical applications of the CVAC process was completed in January 2007.

Principal investigator: Anne L. Friedlander, Ph.D., Associate Director for Education and Evaluation at VAPAHCS’s Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, and a consulting professor for the program in Human Biology at Stanford University.

This initial study tested the efficacy of the CVAC process on exercise performance. Moreover, it tested if CVAC could increase sea-level and altitude exercise performance with significantly less exposure time than traditional intermittent hypoxic exposure (IHE) techniques. As a result of the pilot data; a larger, more extensive study was initiated in 2Q07.