Fig. 3 Maximal power output and peak oxygen consumption.
The maximal power output during polarization was 110 W/m3 cathode liquid volume.
Studies involving obese individuals are more focused on evaluating anaerobic aptitude (e.g., maximal power output).
This increase in maximal power output over the whole duration of the study was not observed in the donation group.
Practically, the changes we observed in maximal power output and VO2peak were rather limited for a moderately trained population.
Maximal power output cumulatively increased in the placebo group as the maximal exercise tests were repeated (p < 0.001), which indicates positive training adaptations.
Nevertheless, the expected improvement in maximal power output after repeated exercise tests, as observed in the placebo group, was not present in the donation group.
We found a reduced maximal power output and VO2peak of a few percent up to 4 weeks after the first blood donation.
A typical example is the improvement of the maximal power output during test series 2 and 3 in the placebo group only.
Without a placebo group, we could have concluded that a single donation alters maximal power output while repeated donations did not.
Maximal power output, VO2peak, and hemoglobin mass were decreased up to 4 weeks after a single blood donation in moderately trained people.
