Biomedical subjects

R B Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to R B Thomas.

38 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Work performance of high-altitude Aymara males.

The sample for this study consisted of 28 Aymara males between the ages of 15 and 43 years. The subjects were rural high-altitude natives who were temporarily working as porters in La Paz, Bolivia (3700 m). Mean VO2max was 46 X 5 ml/kg/min. There was a significant negative relationship between VO2max and age in adult porters . However, there was also a significant positive relationship between maximal work output and age and a significant negative relationship between VO2 during submaximal exercise and age. Relative work intensity (VO2/VO2max) during submaximal exercise did not change significantly with age. Thus, even though VO2max decreased significantly with age, these data suggest that there may not be a substantial decrease with age in the adaptive status of these men. Minimal support was found for the hypothesis that chest size in Andean highlanders influences the effectiveness of the oxygen transport system.

Acclimatization↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Anthropometric survey of high-altitude Bolivian porters.

This paper presents the results of an anthropometric survey of 138 rural Aymaran high-altitude males who were working as porters in La Paz, Bolivia (3700 m). All subjects were measured for stature, weight, upper arm circumference, and triceps skinfolds. The body size and composition of the porters were then compared to an Aymaran rural population from the Bolivian highlands, and urban mestizo labourers from La Paz. The porters were smaller than the urban sample, but appeared to be generally representative of rural Aymaran natives with respect to body size and composition, and nutritional status. It is suggested that towards one extreme of nutritional variability, some degree of undernutrition may be indicated, which should be considered in future studies of adaptation to hypoxia among these Andean highlanders.

Acclimatization↗