Abstract

INSTITUTO BOLIVIANO DE BIOLOGIA DE ALTURA (IBBA) COOPERACION FRANCESA. Sobre la Influencia del Acullico de Coca en la Capacidad Física. Cuad. - Hosp. Clín. [online]. 2008, vol.53, n.1, pp.9-14. ISSN 1562-6776.

ABSTRACT The aim of our study was to assess the effects of coca chewing on the exercise capacity of habitual coca chewers. The study population were 22 healthy men from the Bolivian Altiplano, 14 of which did not chew coca more than 3 times per year (group NC) and 8 used coca 3-4 times per week. The methodology consisted in measuring maximal oxygen uptake and related parameters as well as biochemical variables during 2 exercise tests on a bicycle ergometer. The first test was of controlled progressive exercise up to maximal level, and the second consisted of prolonged submaximal exercise during one hour at 60-70% of the maximal level reached in the first test. Group C did both tests after having chewed coca during one hour previously. Various venous blood samples were obtained from both groups for measuring blood levels of lactate, epinephrine, nor-epinephrine, glucose, insulin and free fatty acids. The results of the maximal exercise test showed similar values of maximal oxygen uptake in both groups. The only significant difference was a greater oxygen desaturation in group C than in NC. The differences between C and NC became evident in the prolonged submaximal test, where C maintained the oxygen uptake whereas NC increased the oxygen consumption significantly. Additionally, group C had higher levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucose and free fatty acids and lower levels of insulin. We concluded that coca chewers are not able to do more intensive work than non-chewers, but that they tolerate effort better as shown by their stable oxygen uptake. The increase of glucose levels and circulating free fatty acids indicates that the better tolerance of prolonged effort in C might be due to a belated decrease of the glycogen stores.

Keywords : Acullico de coca; consumo máximo de oxígeno; Prueba de esfuerzo submáximo prolongado; adrenalina; noradrenalina; Coca chewing; Maximal oxygen uptake; prolonged submaximal exercise test; epinephrine; norepinefrine.

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