[Peak oxygen uptake, ventilatory threshold and leg extension power in apparently healthy Japanese]

Peak oxygen uptake, ventilatory threshold (VT) and leg extension power were measured in 832 apparently healthy subjects (421 males, 411 females) aged 30-60 decades who performed medical examination at 4 health check up facilities. 1) Peak oxygen uptake was greater in male than female, and decreased with age in both sexes. Single regression formula on age were Y (ml/kg/min) = 46.6 - 0.36 x AGE, (r = 0.447, p < 0.001) in male and Y (ml/kg/min) = 35.3 - 0.23 x AGE, (r = 0.407, p < 0.001) in female. 2) VT was greater in male than female, and less decreased with age compared to maximal aerobic power. Single regression formula on age were Y (ml/kg/min) = 22.6 - 0.13 x AGE, (r = 0.371, p < 0.001) in male, Y (ml/kg/min) = 20.0 - 0.10 x AGE, (r = 0.301, p < 0.001) in female. 3) Leg extension power was greater in male than female, and decreased with age in both sexes. Single regression formula on age were Y (W/kg) = 31.9 - 0.27 x AGE, (r = 0.539, p < 0.001) in male and Y (W/kg) = 20.9 - 0.18 x AGE, (r = 0.510, p < 0.001) in female. Subjects in the present study showed height, weight and walk steps per day similar to those in National Nutrition Survey. Comparison of Peak oxygen uptake, ventilatory threshold and leg extensor power to previous studies revealed that these parameters were quite similar to the counterparts in the previous studies with less selection bias. It was suggested that subjects in this study were quite similar to normal Japanese population, and that Peak oxygen uptake, VT and leg extension power in the present study were of value for the evaluation of health related fitness in community and workplace.