Diet is known to affect acclimatization to altitude through the effect of carbohydrate on the respiratory exchange ratio. During the first three days following ascent to high altitude, spirometric indices including the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEVp) decrease. The purpose of this study was to determine if dietary carbohydrate would influence these spirometric changes.
Seven healthy subjects were studied on two nutritionally complete diets at 335 meters and 3780 meters altitude in a cross-over design. The high carbohydrate diet (HI CHO) consisted of 76% of calories as carbohydrate, 12% as fat and 12% as protein, while on the low carbohydrate diet (LO CHO) calories were. 46%, 42% and 12% respectively.
Following ascent to altitude FVC and FEV-1 fell in nearly every case on both diets. However FEV. fell 1. 7.5% on the LO CHO diet but only 0.6% on HI CHO (p0.05).
Eighteen hours post arrival at 3780 meters, FEV-1decreased 1.2% on the LO CHO diet following acute maximal exercise; on the HI CHO diet it dropped 4.8%. This difference, was significant (p2 and FEV3 continued to fall on both diets but there was not a significant FEV1/FVC did change significantly following acute maximal exercise at eighteen hours post arrival at 3780 meters, increased 2.7% on the LO CHO diet while it decreased 0.3% on the HI CHO cant difference in the rates. It diet (p<0.05).
Forty-eight hours after arrival at altitude FVC and FEV1 deteriorated following prolonged exercise when compared with pre-exercise values. FEV]_ declined 2.9% on LO CHO but only 0.9% on HI CHO (p0.05). FVC
Three and one half days after ascent spirometric indices decreased following acute maximal exercise compared with pre-exercise values. The HI CHO diet ameliorated the change in FVC, FEV1 and FEV3. however, FEVg was the only spirometric value significantly different between the diets, falling 7.4% on LO CHO compared to 0.7% on HI CHO At this time (p
These findings suggest that a HI CHO diet also influences certain mechanical changes which occur after acute altitude exposure.
","abstract_html":"<p>Diet is known to affect acclimatization to altitude through the effect of carbohydrate on the respiratory exchange ratio. During the first three days following ascent to high altitude, spirometric indices including the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEVp) decrease. The purpose of this study was to determine if dietary carbohydrate would influence these spirometric changes.</p> <p>Seven healthy subjects were studied on two nutritionally complete diets at 335 meters and 3780 meters altitude in a cross-over design. The high carbohydrate diet (HI CHO) consisted of 76% of calories as carbohydrate, 12% as fat and 12% as protein, while on the low carbohydrate diet (LO CHO) calories were. 46%, 42% and 12% respectively.</p> <p>Following ascent to altitude FVC and FEV-<sub>1</sub> fell in nearly every case on both diets. However FEV. fell 1. 7.5% on the LO CHO diet but only 0.6% on HI CHO (p0.05).</p> <p>Eighteen hours post arrival at 3780 meters, FEV-<sub>1</sub>decreased 1.2% on the LO CHO diet following acute maximal exercise; on the HI CHO diet it dropped 4.8%. This difference, was significant (p2 and FEV<sub>3</sub> continued to fall on both diets but there was not a significant FEV1/FVC did change significantly following acute maximal exercise at eighteen hours post arrival at 3780 meters, increased 2.7% on the LO CHO diet while it decreased 0.3% on the HI CHO cant difference in the rates. It diet (p<0.05).</p> <p>Forty-eight hours after arrival at altitude FVC and FEV<sub>1</sub> deteriorated following prolonged exercise when compared with pre-exercise values. FEV]_ declined 2.9% on LO CHO but only 0.9% on HI CHO (p0.05). FVC</p> <p>Three and one half days after ascent spirometric indices decreased following acute maximal exercise compared with pre-exercise values. The HI CHO diet ameliorated the change in FVC, FEV<sub>1</sub> and FEV<sub>3</sub>. however, FEVg was the only spirometric value significantly different between the diets, falling 7.4% on LO CHO compared to 0.7% on HI CHO At this time (p</p> <p>These findings suggest that a HI CHO diet also influences certain mechanical changes which occur after acute altitude exposure.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Estes-Bruff, Vicki"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Nutrition","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["U. D. Register","Irma B. Vyhmeister","Grenith J. Zimmerman","Craig L. Anderson","James A. Peters"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1982,"date_issued":"1982-06-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"1982-06-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:53:31Z","subjects":["Nutrition","Altitude -- adverse effects; Dietary Carbohydrates; Forced Expiratory Volume; Lung Volume Measurements"],"languages":["English"],"rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/867","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["U. D. Register","Irma B. Vyhmeister","Grenith J. Zimmerman","Craig L. Anderson","James A. Peters"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Estes-Bruff, Vicki"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Nutrition"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Nutrition","Altitude -- adverse effects; Dietary Carbohydrates; Forced Expiratory Volume; Lung Volume Measurements"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/867"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Diet is known to affect acclimatization to altitude through the effect of carbohydrate on the respiratory exchange ratio. During the first three days following ascent to high altitude, spirometric indices including the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEVp) decrease. The purpose of this study was to determine if dietary carbohydrate would influence these spirometric changes.
Seven healthy subjects were studied on two nutritionally complete diets at 335 meters and 3780 meters altitude in a cross-over design. The high carbohydrate diet (HI CHO) consisted of 76% of calories as carbohydrate, 12% as fat and 12% as protein, while on the low carbohydrate diet (LO CHO) calories were. 46%, 42% and 12% respectively.
Following ascent to altitude FVC and FEV-1 fell in nearly every case on both diets. However FEV. fell 1. 7.5% on the LO CHO diet but only 0.6% on HI CHO (p0.05).
Eighteen hours post arrival at 3780 meters, FEV-1decreased 1.2% on the LO CHO diet following acute maximal exercise; on the HI CHO diet it dropped 4.8%. This difference, was significant (p2 and FEV3 continued to fall on both diets but there was not a significant FEV1/FVC did change significantly following acute maximal exercise at eighteen hours post arrival at 3780 meters, increased 2.7% on the LO CHO diet while it decreased 0.3% on the HI CHO cant difference in the rates. It diet (p<0.05).
Forty-eight hours after arrival at altitude FVC and FEV1 deteriorated following prolonged exercise when compared with pre-exercise values. FEV]_ declined 2.9% on LO CHO but only 0.9% on HI CHO (p0.05). FVC
Three and one half days after ascent spirometric indices decreased following acute maximal exercise compared with pre-exercise values. The HI CHO diet ameliorated the change in FVC, FEV1 and FEV3. however, FEVg was the only spirometric value significantly different between the diets, falling 7.4% on LO CHO compared to 0.7% on HI CHO At this time (p
These findings suggest that a HI CHO diet also influences certain mechanical changes which occur after acute altitude exposure.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Dietary Effects on Pulmonary Function at 3780 Meters Altitude"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["U. D. Register","Irma B. Vyhmeister","Grenith J. Zimmerman","Craig L. Anderson","James A. Peters"],"dc:creator":["Estes-Bruff, Vicki"],"dc:description.abstract":["Diet is known to affect acclimatization to altitude through the effect of carbohydrate on the respiratory exchange ratio. During the first three days following ascent to high altitude, spirometric indices including the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEVp) decrease. The purpose of this study was to determine if dietary carbohydrate would influence these spirometric changes.
Seven healthy subjects were studied on two nutritionally complete diets at 335 meters and 3780 meters altitude in a cross-over design. The high carbohydrate diet (HI CHO) consisted of 76% of calories as carbohydrate, 12% as fat and 12% as protein, while on the low carbohydrate diet (LO CHO) calories were. 46%, 42% and 12% respectively.
Following ascent to altitude FVC and FEV-1 fell in nearly every case on both diets. However FEV. fell 1. 7.5% on the LO CHO diet but only 0.6% on HI CHO (p0.05).
Eighteen hours post arrival at 3780 meters, FEV-1decreased 1.2% on the LO CHO diet following acute maximal exercise; on the HI CHO diet it dropped 4.8%. This difference, was significant (p2 and FEV3 continued to fall on both diets but there was not a significant FEV1/FVC did change significantly following acute maximal exercise at eighteen hours post arrival at 3780 meters, increased 2.7% on the LO CHO diet while it decreased 0.3% on the HI CHO cant difference in the rates. It diet (p<0.05).
Forty-eight hours after arrival at altitude FVC and FEV1 deteriorated following prolonged exercise when compared with pre-exercise values. FEV]_ declined 2.9% on LO CHO but only 0.9% on HI CHO (p0.05). FVC
Three and one half days after ascent spirometric indices decreased following acute maximal exercise compared with pre-exercise values. The HI CHO diet ameliorated the change in FVC, FEV1 and FEV3. however, FEVg was the only spirometric value significantly different between the diets, falling 7.4% on LO CHO compared to 0.7% on HI CHO At this time (p
These findings suggest that a HI CHO diet also influences certain mechanical changes which occur after acute altitude exposure.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/867"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"dc:subject":["Nutrition","Altitude -- adverse effects; Dietary Carbohydrates; Forced Expiratory Volume; Lung Volume Measurements"],"dc:title":["Dietary Effects on Pulmonary Function at 3780 Meters Altitude"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Nutrition"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:53:31Z"}