Overestimate of relative aerobic contribution with maximal accumulated oxygen deficit: a review

Maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) is widely utilized in calculating energy production during supra-maximal exercises. Since its introduction by Medbo et al. in 1988, debate on MAOD existed. The purpose of this review was to summarize the development and description of MAOD and another method of calculating energy production (Pcr-La-O₂). We reviewed similar studies on relative aerobic contribution (O₂%) and analyzed various results of O₂% calculated using MAOD or Pcr-La-O₂. An overestimate of O₂% was found when using MAOD compared to Pcr-La-O₂. The overestimate when using MAOD is likely due to the linear extrapolation of oxygen uptake at supra-maximal intensity, the neglect of anaerobic energy release and the reduced duration of each step in sub-maximal incremental test. Since it is unknown which method provides a more reliable estimation of O₂%, an exponential regression function (y=22.404 * ex + 45.176, where y=O₂% in percentage, x=duration of the supra-maximal exercise in minute) was drawn from the existing data using both methods.