Prolonged administration of recombinant human erythropoietin increases submaximal performance more than maximal aerobic capacity

The effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) treatment on aerobic power (VO₂max) are well documented, but little is known about the effects of rHuEpo on submaximal exercise performance. The present study investigated the effect on performance (ergometer cycling, 20–30 min at 80% of maximal attainable workload), and for this purpose eight subjects received either 5,000 IU rHuEpo or placebo every second day for 14 days, and subsequently a single dose of 5,000 IU/placebo weekly/10 weeks. Exercise performance was evaluated before treatment and after 4 and 11 weeks of treatment. With rHuEpo treatment VO₂max increased (P < 0.05) by 12.6 and 11.6% in week 4 and 11, respectively, and time-to-exhaustion (80% VO₂max) was increased by 54.0 and 54.3% (P < 0.05) after 4 and 11 weeks of treatment, respectively. However, when normalizing the workload to the same relative intensity (only done at time point week 11), TTE was decreased by 26.8% as compared to pre rHuEpo administration. In conclusion, in healthy non-athlete subjects rHuEpo administration prolongs submaximal exercise performance by about 54% independently of the approximately 12% increase in VO₂max.