Comparison of objective methods for determining ventilatory threshold

This study was undertaken to compare and re-examine the relation of lactate threshold (LT) and ventilatory threshold (VT), using six objective determination methods proposed previously. Twenty-one young male subjects performed a cycle exercise test in which the work rate was increased by 150 kg.m every 2 min up to his limit of volitional fatigue. Through each test, gas exchange parameter measurements were made every 1 min (every 30 s at nearly maximal level), and the venous blood samples were taken from a warmed ear lobe at each work rate for determining blood lactate concentration. LT and its variance were determined by the intersecting straight lines regression. LT ranged from 0.72 to 1.40 l/min in terms of VO2, and the mean value of S.D. for each LT was about 0.1 l/min. Each objective method for determining VT used in this study was based on the simple modelling of the criterion for visual detection of VT, that is the non-linear increase in VE or the systematic increase in VE/VO2. When the relationship between LT and VT was examined, VT by the objective methods based on determining minimum value of VE/VO2 showed relatively high consistency with LT. Of 16-20 individuals out of all 21 subjects, there were VT within LT +/- 0.2 in VO2. It is concluded that VE/VO2 is a more sensitive index for detecting VT than VE in the gas exchange parameters, and the objective VT determination method based on minimum value of VE/VO2 could facilitate estimation of LT within an error of +/- 0.2 l/min VO2 in most normal individuals.