Researchers tested whether a supplement called Sanopal® could help athletes breathe better and perform stronger at high altitude, where there’s less oxygen in the air. Nineteen young athletes took either the supplement or a fake pill and then exercised at different altitudes. The supplement made a very small difference in how well the body’s blood carried oxygen after exercise at altitude, but it didn’t improve overall oxygen levels or heart rate. While the results are interesting, the benefit was so small that it probably won’t help most athletes in real life.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Does a supplement called Sanopal® help the body use oxygen better when exercising at high altitude?
- Who participated: 19 healthy young college athletes (12 women and 7 men) who were used to exercising regularly
- Key finding: After exercise at altitude, the supplement slightly improved how well blood held onto oxygen (about 2% improvement), but it didn’t change overall oxygen levels in the blood or heart rate
- What it means for you: If you’re an athlete training at altitude, this supplement probably won’t give you a noticeable performance boost. The improvement was too small to make a real difference in how you feel or perform. Talk to a doctor or sports nutritionist before trying any new supplements.
The Research Details
This was a carefully controlled experiment where 19 young athletes came to the lab twice. Each time, they took either the Sanopal® supplement or a placebo (fake pill) without knowing which one they got. The researchers measured their blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and other blood markers at sea level and then again at a moderate altitude (about 9,500 feet high). The athletes exercised at altitude, and the researchers measured everything again afterward.
The study used a ‘crossover’ design, which means each athlete participated in both the supplement and placebo conditions at different times. This is a smart way to study supplements because it lets researchers compare each person to themselves, which reduces confusion from differences between people.
The researchers kept the study ‘single-blinded,’ meaning the athletes didn’t know whether they were taking the real supplement or placebo, but the researchers did know. This helps prevent the placebo effect from influencing the results.
This research approach is important because altitude training is popular with athletes, but we don’t know much about whether supplements can actually help. By testing in a controlled lab setting with careful measurements, the researchers could see exactly what the supplement does (or doesn’t do) to the body’s oxygen handling. The crossover design is especially valuable because it reduces the noise from individual differences between athletes.
This study has some good points: it was randomized (athletes were randomly assigned to get supplement or placebo first), it was controlled (they compared to placebo), and it measured specific blood markers. However, the study is quite small with only 19 people, which means the results might not apply to everyone. The altitude used (9,500 feet) is moderate, not extreme, so results might be different at higher elevations. Also, the study only looked at short-term effects, not what happens with long-term use.
What the Results Show
The main finding was that Sanopal® had almost no effect on oxygen levels in the blood or heart rate during exercise at altitude. When athletes rested or were first exposed to altitude, the supplement did nothing to improve how well their blood carried oxygen.
However, after exercise at altitude, something small did happen: the supplement slightly improved how tightly the blood held onto oxygen (about 2% improvement). In the placebo group, blood oxygen affinity actually decreased by about 5% after exercise, but in the supplement group, it increased by about 2%. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.030), meaning it probably wasn’t just by chance.
Despite this small improvement in oxygen affinity, the supplement didn’t actually increase the amount of oxygen in the blood (SpO₂) or change heart rate. The researchers think the improvement was too small to make any real difference in how athletes felt or performed.
The researchers also looked at other blood markers and measurements, but the supplement didn’t significantly change any of them. Heart rate responses to exercise were the same whether athletes took the supplement or placebo. There were no unexpected side effects or safety concerns reported.
This is one of the first studies to test Sanopal® specifically for altitude performance. Previous research on altitude training shows that the body naturally adapts to high altitude over days and weeks, but quick fixes with supplements have generally shown limited benefits. This study fits with that pattern—the supplement showed a tiny effect that’s probably too small to matter in real training situations.
The study is small with only 19 athletes, so the results might not apply to everyone. The altitude tested (9,500 feet) is moderate, not extreme, so the supplement might work differently at higher elevations where oxygen is even scarcer. The study only looked at what happens immediately after taking the supplement, not whether benefits build up over days or weeks of use. Also, all participants were young, healthy athletes, so results might be different for older people or those with health conditions. Finally, the improvement in oxygen affinity was so small that it may not have any real-world impact on athletic performance.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, we cannot recommend Sanopal® as an effective supplement for improving athletic performance at altitude. The evidence suggests it has minimal to no practical benefit. If you’re training at altitude, focus on proven strategies like arriving early to acclimate, staying hydrated, and getting adequate sleep. Always consult with a sports medicine doctor or registered dietitian before starting any new supplement.
Athletes training or competing at altitude might be interested in this research, but the results suggest the supplement won’t help them. People with certain blood disorders or those taking medications that affect oxygen should definitely talk to their doctor before trying any new supplements. This research is less relevant for people exercising at sea level.
Based on this study, if you took this supplement, you wouldn’t notice any improvement in how you feel or perform during altitude training. The effect was so small that it wouldn’t translate to better endurance, faster times, or easier breathing.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If a user is training at altitude and wants to track supplement effects, they should measure: resting heart rate each morning, perceived exertion during workouts (on a scale of 1-10), and workout performance metrics (distance covered, time to fatigue). Track these for 2-4 weeks with and without the supplement to see if there’s any personal difference.
- Rather than relying on supplements, users should focus on proven altitude training strategies: arrive at altitude 2-3 weeks before competition if possible, increase water intake by 25-50%, ensure 8+ hours of sleep nightly, and eat iron-rich foods to support oxygen transport. Log these behaviors in the app to build consistency.
- Track weekly workout performance metrics, morning resting heart rate, and subjective energy levels. Compare performance during weeks with the supplement versus without. If no improvement appears after 4 weeks, the supplement likely isn’t helping and money could be better spent on proven training methods.
This research summary is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. The study shows that Sanopal® had minimal effects on oxygen handling during altitude exercise. Before starting any new supplement, especially if you have existing health conditions, take medications, or are pregnant or nursing, consult with your doctor or a registered sports dietitian. Supplements are not regulated the same way as medications, and individual responses vary. This single study provides limited evidence, and more research is needed before drawing firm conclusions about this supplement’s effectiveness.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.