PhD defence: Acute and chronic effects of ß2-adrenoceptor agonists

in relation to exercise performance and doping with emphasis on terbutaline

Morten Hostrup Nielsen

PhD thesis

Frontpage of PhD thesis

This thesis addresses the performance enhancing effects of β2-agonists (asthma medication) with emphasis on terbutaline in the context of doping. Given the high prevalence of asthma in the athletic population, β2-agonists are among the most used drugs in competitive sport.

While there is consensus that therapeutic inhalation of β2-agonists is without performance enhancing effects, oral β2-agonists are considered performance-enhancing. Since the systemic uptake of inhaled β2-agonists is higher than after oral intake, it may be that high dose inhalation of β2-agonists is performance enhancing. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms by which β2-agonists affect performance in humans are inadequately explored.

The purpose of this PhD was to investigate acute and chronic effects of high dose administration of terbutaline and to examine underlying mechanisms by which terbutaline affects performance.

2015, 197 pages,
ISBN 978 87 9177 161 3

Time

25 August 2015, 14:00

Venue

Aud. 1, August Krogh Building, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen.

Opponents

Jørgen Wojtaszewski (chair), Professor, Section of Molecular Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Charlotte Suetta, Clinical Associate Research Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, Rigshospitalet & Klinisk fysiologisk/Nuklearmedicinsk Afsnit, Glostrup hospital, Denmark.

John Dickinson, Head of the Respiratory Clinic, Associate Professor, PhD, School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, University of Kent, United Kingdom.

Supervisor

Jens Bangsbo, professor, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Co-supervisor

Vibeke Backer, professor, Bisbebjerg Hospital, Denmark.