A sex-specific relationship between capillary density and anaerobic threshold

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Brian H. Annex (Creator)

Daniel R. Bensimhon (Creator)

Brian D. Duscha (Creator)

James E. Hansen (Creator)

Joseph A. Houmard (Creator)

William E. Kraus (Creator)

Jennifer L. Robbins (Creator)

Karlman Wasserman (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Although both capillary density and peak oxygen consumption (VO2) improve with exercise training it is difficult to find a relationship between these two measures. It has been suggested that peak VO2 may be more related to central hemodynamics than to the oxidative potential of skeletal muscle which may account for this observation. We hypothesized that change in a measure of submaximal performance anaerobic threshold might be related to change in skeletal muscle capillary density a marker of oxidative potential in muscle with training. Due to baseline differences among these variables we also hypothesized that relationships might be sex specific. A group of 21 subjects completed an inactive control period whereas 28 subjects (17 men and 11 women) participated in a 6-mo high-intensity exercise program. All subjects were sedentary overweight and dyslipidemic. Potential relationships were assessed between change in capillary density with both change in VO2 at peak and at anaerobic threshold with exercise training. All variables and relationships were assessed for sex-specific effects. Change in peak VO2 was not related to change in capillary density after exercise training in either sex. Men had a positive correlation between change in VO2 at anaerobic threshold and change in capillary density with exercise training (r 0.635; P 0.01) whereas women had an inverse relationship (r 0.636; P 0.05) between the change in these variables. These findings suggest that although enhanced capillary density is associated with training- induced improvements in submaximal performance in men this relationship is different in women. Originally published Journal of Applied Physiology Vol. 106 No. 4 Apr 2009

Additional Information

Publication

Other

Journal of Applied Physiology. 106:4(April 2009) p. 1181-1186.

Language: English

Date: 2011

Keywords

Skeletal muscle, Exercise, targeted risk reduction, peak oxygen consumption

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