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Acid-base balance at high altitude in lowlanders and indigenous highlanders.

High-altitude exposure results in a hyperventilatory-induced respiratory alkalosis followed by renal compensation (bicarbonaturia) to return arterial blood pH(a) toward sea-level values. However, acid-base balance has not been comprehensively examined in both lowlanders and indigenous populations - where the latter are thought to be fully adapted to high-altitude. The purpose of this investigation was to compare acid-base balance between acclimatizing lowlanders, and Andean and Sherpa highlanders at various altitudes (~3,800, ~4,300, and ~5,000 m). We compiled data collected across five independent high-altitude expeditions and report the following novel findings: 1) at 3,800 m, Andeans (n=7) had elevated pHa compared to Sherpas (n=12; P<0.01), but not to lowlanders (n=16; nine days acclimatized; P=0.09); 2) at 4,300 m, lowlanders (n=16; 21 days acclimatized) had elevated pHa compared to Andeans (n=32) and Sherpas (n=11; both P<0.01), and Andeans had elevated pHa compared to Sherpas (P=0.01); and 3) at 5,000 m, lowlanders (n=16; 14 days acclimatized) had higher pHa compared to both Andeans (n=66) and Sherpas (n=18; P<0.01, and P=0.03, respectively), and Andean and Sherpa highlanders had similar blood pHa (P=0.65). These novel data characterize acid-base balance acclimatization and adaptation to various altitudes in lowlanders and indigenous highlanders.