Scaling peak V˙o 2 to body mass in young male and female distance runners
This study examined age- and sex-associated variation in peak oxygen consumption (V˙o 2) of young male and female distance runners from an allometric scaling perspective. Subjects were from two separate studies of 9- to 19-yr-old distance runners from the mid-Michigan area, one conducted between 1982 and 1986 (Young Runners Study I, YRS I) and the other in 1999–2000 (Young Runners Study II, YRS II). Data from 27 boys and 27 girls from YRS I and 48 boys and 22 girls from the YRS II were included, and a total of 139 and 108 measurements of body size and peak V˙o 2 in boys and girls, respectively, were available. Subjects were divided into whole year age groups. A 2 × 9 (sex × age group) ANOVA was used to examine differences in peakV˙o 2. Intraindividual ontogenetic allometric scaling was determined in 20 boys and 17 girls measured annually for 3–5 yr. Allometric scaling factors were calculated using linear regression of log-transformed data. Results indicated that 1) absolute peak V˙o 2increases with age in boys and girls, 2) relative peakV˙o 2(ml · kg−1 · min−1) remains relatively stable in boys and in girls, 3) relative peakV˙o 2(ml · kg−0.75 · min−1) increases throughout the age range in boys and increases in girls until age 15 yr, and 4) peakV˙o 2 adjusted for body mass (ml/min) increases with age in boys and girls. The overall mean cross-sectional scaling factor was 1.01 ± 0.03 (SE) in boys and 0.85 ± 0.05 (SE) in girls. Significant age × sex interactions and significant scaling factors between sexes identify the progressive divergence of peak V˙o 2 between adolescent male and female distance runners. Mean ontogenetic allometric scaling factors were 0.81 [0.71–0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI)] and 0.61 (0.50–0.72, 95% CI) in boys and girls, respectively ( P = 0.002). There was considerable variation in individual scaling factors (0.51–1.31 and 0.28–0.90 in boys and girls, respectively). The results suggest that the interpretation of growth-related changes in peak V˙o 2 of young distance runners is dependent upon the manner of expressing peakV˙o 2 relative to body size and/or the statistical technique employed.