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Table 2 Summary of studies of blood doping and exercise

From: ‘Blood doping’ from Armstrong to prehabilitation: manipulation of blood to improve performance in athletes and physiological reserve in patients

Authors

Date

Storage technique

Volume infuseda (ml)

Time of reinfusion post phlebotomy

Hb or Hct vs controlb (%)

\({\dot{\text{V}}}\)O2max vs control (%)

End capacityc vs controlb (%)

Pace et al

1947

Freshg

2000

+26d

N.R

+34.7d

Gullbring et al

1960

Refridg

610

7 days

+0.7

N.R

+3

Robinson et al

1966

Refridg

1000

2 weeks

+4.8

+1.4

N.R

Ekblom et al

1972

Refridg

800

4 weeks

+2.1

+5.5e

+ 15.6e

  

Refridg

1200

4 weeks

+1.3

+1.6e

+ 25.1e

Von Rost et al

1975

Refridg

900

3 weeks

+2.7

+9.0e

+ 375

Bell et al

1976

Refridg

500

3 weeks

+1.0

+5.6f

+ 7.5

Ekblom et al

1976

Refridg

800

~5 weeks

+4.5e

+8.0d

N.R

Videman and RytÖmaa

1977

Refridg

4–600

2–3 weeks

+2.6

N.R

+ 3.8

Robertson et al

1978 Abst

N.R

1800

NR

N.R.

+12.8d

+ 15.6d

Williams et al

1978

Frozen

460

3 weeks

+3.3

N.R

+ 4.1

Cottrell

1979 Abst

Frozen

405

9 weeks

N.R.

~+2.0f

N.R

Roberston et al

1979 Abst

N.R

800

N.R.

+15.8d

+30.5d

+ 13.1d

Buick et al

1980

Frozen

900

7 weeks

+11d

+5d

+ 35d

Spriet et al

1980 Abst

Frozen

800

11 weeks

+7.9d

+3.9d

N.R

   

1200

12 weeks

+10.7d

+6.6d

N.R

Williams et al

1981

Frozen

920

7 weeks

+7d

N.R

+2.5d

  1. Reproduced with permission from Wolters Kluwer Health [44]
  2. NR data not reported, Refridg refrigerated
  3. aWhole blood or equivalent whole blood
  4. b Control pre-phlebotomy measurement
  5. cEndurance exercise capacity, physical work capacity or performance time
  6. dStatistically significant (P ≤ 0.05)
  7. eNo statistical analysis reported
  8. fPredicted from submaximal exercise heart rate
  9. gFresh homologous blood; all other studies used autologous blood