Age Related Decline in VO2max and Lean Body Mass in Masters Athletes

Abstract

Improving physical performance of athletes is an important goal to success in sports achievements. Aging influences both body composition and results in a decline in maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). This decline results from several factors, including increased body fat and reduced maximal cardiac output. Sex differences in age-related decline in VO2max and lean body mass (LBM) in Masters Athletes is still not fully understood. PURPOSE: To examine the sex differences in the age-related decline in VO2max and LBM in Masters Athletes. METHODS: A total of 26 master athletes (females: n=14, males: n=12), 26 to 60 years of age, participated in this cross-sectional study. VO2max was determined via Vmax Encore metabolic system. Lean body mass was evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in VO2max (40.1+8.7 and 38.2+12.1 mL/kg/minute) (t (24) = 1.29, P=0.208) and age (36.5+5.4 and 41.4+9.1 years) (t (24) = -0.784, P=0.441) between males and females, respectively. Males had a significantly greater LBM than females (t (24) = 5.59, P=0.00) (61.7+9.1 kg and 44.2+6.9, respectively). For males, there was no significant correlation between age and VO2max (r = -0.31, P =0.32), age and LBM (r = -0.23, P=0.47), or VO2max and LBM (r = 0.04, P=0.89). For females, there was a significant negative correlation between age and VO2max (r = -0.603, P=0.02); but no significant correlations were found between age and LBM (r = -0.244, P=0.40) and VO2max and LBM (r = 0.121, P=0.68). There was not a significant age-related decline in VO2max in males and females (r2 = 0.09, r2 = 0.36, respectively) or in LBM (r2 = 0.05, r2 = 0.06, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although there were declines in VO2max in both men and women, these age-related declines were not significant. In addition, age-related declines in LBM were not significant in this sample of Masters Athletes. These represent data from an unfunded research project