One of the best ways to lower your VO2 max is to breathe moldy air.
True, there are SO many ways mold reduces aerobic capacity ~
🔆 mast cell reactions to spores causing allergic histamine responses
🏹 fragments lodging into the lungs causing a blockade of CO2 exchange for O2
💥 chronic inflammation causing turbid blood flow
⬇️ reduction of heme – the oxygen carrying component of hemoglobin
💗 inflammation of the heart muscle fibers
🤔
You’d think that would be enough to convince any athlete to run away from mold.
BUT ALSO
contrary to popular myth, your VO2 max is NOT a fixed quotient.
Mold can lower it!
By increasing inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen, it can reduce VO2 max in asymptomatic men.
So athlete – the best running route is
away from mold!
*Kullo IJ, Khaleghi M, Hensrud DD. Markers of inflammation are inversely associated with VO2 max in asymptomatic men. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007 Apr;102(4):1374-9. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01028.2006. Epub 2006 Dec 14. PMID: 17170204.
**Seyed Toutounchi N, Hogenkamp A, Varasteh S, Van’t Land B, Garssen J, Kraneveld AD, Folkerts G, Braber S. Fusarium Mycotoxins Disrupt the Barrier and Induce IL-6 Release in a Human Placental Epithelium Cell Line. Toxins (Basel). 2019 Nov 14;11(11):665. doi: 10.3390/toxins11110665. PMID: 31739567; PMCID: PMC6891427.
***Gentry PA. The effect of administration of a single dose of T-2 toxin on blood coagulation in the rabbit. Can J Comp Med. 1982 Oct;46(4):414-9. PMID: 7172105; PMCID: PMC1320308.
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