Greater rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity with age in endurance-trained than in sedentary men

Abstract

To determine the relation between habitual endurance exercise status and the age-associated decline in maximal aerobic capacity [i.e., maximal O2consumption (V˙o2 max)] in men, we performed a well-controlled cross-sectional laboratory study on 153 healthy men aged 20–75 yr: 64 sedentary and 89 endurance trained.V˙o2 max(ml · kg−1· min−1), measured by maximal treadmill exercise, was inversely related to age in the endurance-trained ( r = −0.80) and sedentary ( r = −0.74) men but was higher in the endurance-trained men at any age. The rate of decline inV˙o2 maxwith age (ml · kg−1· min−1) was greater ( P < 0.001) in the endurance-trained than in the sedentary men. Whereas the relative rate of decline inV˙o2 max(percent decrease per decade from baseline levels in young adulthood) was similar in the two groups, the absolute rate of decline inV˙o2 maxwas −5.4 and −3.9 ml · kg−1· min−· decade−1in the endurance-trained and sedentary men, respectively.V˙o2 maxdeclined linearly across the age range in the sedentary men but was maintained in the endurance-trained men until ∼50 yr of age. The accelerated decline inV˙o2 maxafter 50 yr of age in the endurance-trained men was related to a decline in training volume ( r = 0.46, P < 0.0001) and was associated with an increase in 10-km running time ( r = −0.84, P < 0.0001). We conclude that the rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity during middle and older age is greater in endurance-trained men than in their sedentary peers and is associated with a marked decline in O2pulse.