Epo increases red blood cell production and hence the amount of oxygen that can be transported around the body. It is shown that prolonged use of synthetic Epo (rHuEpo) leads to an increase in the period of time a given physical work can be performed, therefore it will continue to be abused by athletes, especially in endurance sports. The existing method for measuring the abuse of rHuEpo approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is based on differences in the sugar groups bound to rHuEpo and Epo produced in the body, respectively. Proteomics is a method by which one can look at all the proteins in blood at the same time. Even proteins that have changed very little can be distinguished. The main objective of this project is to investigate the effect of prolonged treatment with rHuEpo on changes in blood proteins in healthy young men.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
35
rHuEpo (5000 IU)is administered using a small syringe under the skin every other day for the first 2 weeks, on 3 consecutive days during week 3, and once a week from week 4-10.
For ten weeks participants will receive supervised endurance training on a bike three times a week. Physical effect will be examined with VO2-max tests before during and after the training period.
placebo (saline) is administered using a small syringe under the skin every other day for the first 2 weeks, on 3 consecutive days during week 3, and once a week from week 4-12.
Aarhus University Hospital
Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark
Department of Endocrinology, Research Laboratories
Aarhus, Denmark
Changes in serum protein isoforms measured by proteomics
We wish to identify proteins or isoforms hereof that change with rHuEpo treatment, in order to identify new biomarkers in the blood that can be used to detect rHuEpo abuse.
Time frame: 10 months
Changes in substrate metabolism in relation to rHuEpo treatment and endurance training
Metabolic and mechanistic effects of 10 weeks of training and use of EPO on fat and skeletal muscle tissue as well as on a whole body level. A variety of different tracers and indirect calorimetry will be used.
Time frame: 10 months
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