Levels of free plasma amino acids under acute normobaric hypoxia in volunteers in fasted and postprandial states

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of acute normobaric hypoxia on free plasma amino acids (AA) in volunteers after overnight fasting and in the fed state. Materials and Methods. Group 1 (n=13, aged 22-32) participated in the study in the morning after overnight fasting. Group 2 (n=9, aged 22-32) took part in the study after a light fat-free breakfast. Acute normobaric hypoxia was achieved by breathing a hypoxic gas mixture (9 % O2 and 91 % N2) through a mask. According to the experimental protocol, blood sampling from the cubital vein was performed for analysis. Free plasma amino acids were analyzed using the Aracus amino acid analyzer. Results. Prior to the hypoxia onset, at the 5th and 20th minutes of hypoxia, no statistically significant differences in free AA levels were observed in the groups (p>0.05). At the 10th minute of hypoxia the levels of four AAs (serine, threonine, glutamine, and histidine) were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p