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Int J Sports Med 2000; 21(6): 424-428
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-3838
Physiology and Biochemistry
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Montelukast does not Affect Exercise Performance at Subfreezing Temperature in Highly Trained Non-Asthmatic Endurance Athletes

M. Sue-Chu1 ,  M. Sandsund2 ,  B. Holand2 ,  L. Bjermer1
  • 1 Department of Lung Medicine, University Hospital, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • 2 Division of Extreme Work Environment, SINTEF Unimed, Trondheim, Norway
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

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Anti-leukotriene therapy represents a new principle in asthma treatment. As elite athletes can have asthma, this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised cross-over study investigated the effect of 10 mg oral montelukast, a specific and potent cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, on physiological responses to submaximal and maximal aerobic exercise at - 15 °C in 14 non-asthmatic highly trained endurance male athletes (maximal oxygen uptake [V˙O2 max] > 70 ml × kg-1 × min-1). Heart rate, capillary blood lactate, minute ventilation with tidal volume and breathing frequency, respiratory exchange ratio and oxygen uptake were measured during the warm-up run of 10 min at 50 %, runs of 10 min at 90 % and 5 min at 80 % V˙O2max, and a timed run to exhaustion. Spirometry was performed at baseline, at four hours after tablet ingestion, after warm-up and exercise at 80 % V˙O2max, and in the post exercise period. Compared to placebo, montelukast did not increase baseline FEV1, have a beneficial effect on physiological performance variables, or increase the mean (SD) running time to exhaustion (montelukast: 332.3 [45.8] s, placebo: 340.1 [53.3] s, P = 0.22). These findings do not suggest the need for disallowing the use of this drug by asthmatic athletes.

Key words:

Montelukast, leukotriene receptor antagonists, physical performance, endurance athletes.

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Malcolm Sue-Chu,MB ChB, FRCA 

Department of Lung Medicine University Hospital

N-7006 Trondheim Norway

Phone: Phone:+ 47 (73) 868596

Fax: Fax:+ 47 (73) 867424

Email: E-mail:malcolm.suechu@sensewave.com