Influence of dichloroacetate on pulmonary gas exchange and ventilation during incremental exercise in healthy humans

Daryl P. Wilkerson, Iain T. Campbell, Jamie R. Blackwell, Nicolas Berger, Andrew M. Jones

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    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We hypothesised that dichloroacetate (DCA) would reduce blood lactate accumulation, pulmonary carbon dioxide output (over(V, ̇)C O2) and ventilation (over(V, ̇)E) at sub-maximal work rates, and improve exercise tolerance during incremental exercise in healthy humans. Nine males (mean ± SD, age 27 ± 4 years) completed, in random order, two ramp incremental cycle ergometer tests to the limit of tolerance following the intravenous infusion of DCA (75 mg/kg body mass in 80 ml saline) or an equivalent volume of saline (as placebo). Relative to control, blood [lactate] was significantly reduced by DCA immediately before exercise (CON: 0.7 ± 0.2 vs. DCA: 0.5 ± 0.2 mM; P < 0.05) and throughout exercise until 630 s (P < 0.05). Blood [HCO3 -] was significantly higher in the DCA condition from 360 s until 720 s of exercise (P < 0.05). over(V, ̇)C O2 and over(V, ̇)E were both lower throughout exercise in the DCA condition, with the differences reaching significance at 90 and 180 s for over(V, ̇)C O2 (P < 0.05) and at 90, 180, 450, 540, 630, and 810 s for over(V, ̇)E (P < 0.05). Exercise tolerance was not significantly altered (CON: 1029 ± 109 vs. DCA: 1045 ± 101 s). Infusion of DCA resulted in reductions in blood [lactate], over(V, ̇)C O2 and over(V, ̇)E during sub-maximal incremental exercise, consistent with the existence of a link between the bicarbonate buffering of metabolic acidosis and increased CO2 output. However, the reduced blood lactate accumulation during sub-maximal exercise with DCA did not enhance exercise tolerance.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)224-229
    Number of pages6
    JournalRespiratory Physiology and Neurobiology
    Volume168
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 30 Sept 2009

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