Effect of salbutamol, a beta-2-adrenergic agonist, on erythropoietin concentration in healthy males

Fifteen healthy males, aged 20-30 years, participated in a double-blind cross-over study on the effect of the beta-2 stimulator salbutamol on erythropoietin concentration and hemoglobin concentration. The treatment period comprised inhalation of salbutamol, 0.8 mg four times daily for 2 weeks. Serum-erythropoietin was essentially unaltered after treatment with salbutamol, 9.5+/-4.94 IU . I-1 (mean+/-LSD), as compared to both control situation, 9.2+/-4.50 IU . I-1(mean+/-SD), and placebo treatment (9.7+/-4.07 IU . I-1) (mean+/-SD). The same pattern, no significant changes between control situation and treatment with salbutamol or placebo, also applied to hemoglobin concentration. In conclusion, it is not possible to increase erythropoietin concentration and thereby erytropoiesis by inhalation of high doses of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved beta-2 stimulator salbutamol for 2 weeks in healthy young males.