Greater rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity with age in
physically active compared with sedentary healthy women.
Tanaka, Hirofumi, Christopher A. Desouza, Pamela P. Jones, Edith T.
Stevenson, Kevin P. Davy, and Douglas R. Seals.
Human Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Center for Physical
Activity, Disease Prevention, and Aging, Department of Kinesiology,
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, and Department of Medicine
(Cardiology and Geriatric Medicine), Center on Aging, University of
Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262
APStracts 4:0369A, 1997.
Using a meta-analytic approach, we recently reported that the rate of
decline in maximal oxygen uptake (O(V,[tilde]n)O2max) with age in
healthy women is greatest in the most physically active and smallest
in the least active when expressed in ml/kg/min/decade. We tested
this hypothesis prospectively under well-controlled laboratory
conditions by studying 156 healthy, non-obese women (20-75 yr): 84
endurance-trained runners (ET) and 72 sedentary (S). ET were matched
across the age range for age-adjusted 10km running performance. Body
mass was positively related with age in S, but not in ET. Fat free
mass was not different with age in ET or S. Maximal respiratory
exchange ratio and rating of perceived exertion were similar across
age in ET and S, suggesting equivalent voluntary maximal efforts.
There was a significant but modest decline in running mileage,
frequency, and speed with advancing age in ET. O(V,[tilde]n)O2max
(ml[beta]kg-1[beta]min-1) was inversely related to age (p<0.001) in
ET (r=-0.82) and S (r=-0.71), and was higher at any age in ET.
Consistent with our meta-analysis findings, the absolute rate of
decline in O(V,[tilde]n)O2max was greater in ET (-5.7 ml[beta]kg
-1[beta]min-1[beta]decade-1) compared with S (-3.2 ml[beta]kg
-1[beta]min-1[beta]decade-1) (p<0.01), but the relative (%) rate of
decline was similar (-9.7 vs -9.1 %[beta]decade-1, ns). The greater
absolute rate of decline in O(V,[tilde]n)O2max in ET compared with S
was not associated with a greater rate of decline in maximal heart
rate (-5.6 vs -6.2 bpm[beta]decade-1), nor was it related to training
factors. The present cross-sectional findings provide additional
evidence that the absolute, but not the relative, rate of decline in
maximal aerobic capacity with age may be greater in highly
physically-active women compared with their sedentary healthy peers.
This difference does not appear related to age-related changes in
maximal heart rate, body composition, or training factors.
Received 14 March 1997; accepted in final form 31 July 1997.
APS Manuscript Number A239-7.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 5 September 1997