Nutritional alterations at high altitude in man

During the French 1980 Mount Pabil (7,102 m) Expedition, a study was made of four altitude-acclimatised climbers (age 36.5±3.6 years; \(\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} }\) 50.5±3.1 ml · kg⁻¹). Intake of various nutrients, body weight, skinfold thicknesses as indices of body composition, and water and nitrogen balances, were recorded before, and during high altitude exposure, and again after the return to low altitude. There was a significant (35–57%) reduction in total caloric intake at high altitude. Body weight decreased progressively, mainly due to a reduction in body fat. The subjects apparently remained in water balance, while the nitrogen balance was always negative during high altitude exposure. The significant nutritional alterations were mainly observed above 6,000 m. They are discussed with respect to changes in feeding patterns and in hormonal status of the climbers accompanying hypoxia and other stressors proper to high altitude.