The ergogenic effect of long-term use of high dose salbutamol.

Objective: Investigate the effect of inhaling 1600 μg salbutamol for 6 weeks on endurance, strength, and power performances.

Design: Randomized double-blind, mixed-model repeated measures.

Participants: Sixteen male athletes (mean ± SD: age, 20.1 ± 1.6 years; height, 179.9 ± 8.2 cm; weight, 74.6 ± 9.1 kg).

Interventions: Participants were assigned to either a placebo inhaler (PLA) or inhaled 1600 μg salbutamol group (SAL). Over 6 weeks, participants inhaled PLA or SAL and completed 4 training sessions per week that focused on endurance, strength, and power.

Main Outcome Measures: Participants completed the assessments of peak oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak), 3-km time trial, vertical jump height, 1 repetition maximum (1RM) bench and leg press, and peak torque knee flexion and extension. Assessments were undertaken at baseline, week 3, and week 6.

Results: Over the 6 weeks, PLA and SAL groups improved V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak (51.7 ± 4.7 vs 56.8 ± 7.1 mL·min·kg; 53.1 ± 6.1 vs 55.0 ± 6.7 mL·min·kg); 3-km running time trial (988.6 ± 194.6 vs 947.5 ± 155.5 seconds; 1040.4 ± 187.4 vs 1004.2 ± 199.4 seconds); 1RM bench press (65.7 ± 15.4 vs 70.3 ± 13.8 kg; 64.3 ± 14.0 vs 72.5 ± 15.3 kg); and leg press (250.0 ± 76.4 vs 282.5 ± 63.6 kg; 217.9 ± 54.0 vs 282.8 ± 51.9 kg). The SAL group did not improve significantly greater in any endurance or strength and power measure when compared with the PLA group.

Conclusions: Inhaling 1600 µg salbutamol daily over 6 weeks does not result in significant improvements in endurance, or strength and power performances.

Clinical Relevance: Athletes using inhaled salbutamol to treat bronchoconstriction during exercise on a daily basis will not gain an advantage over nonasthmatic athletes not using inhaled salbutamol.