Maximal oxygen uptake of agricultural men and women in India

The maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) of 228 men and 47 women from the Indian agricultural community was measured. The VO2 max in 20-24-year-old men was about 17% less than in the 25-29-year-old group. With advancing age, the VO2 declined gradually to the ages 55-59, excepting the 36-39-year-old group. The loss in VO2 max was 0.65 ml/kg.min per year between 25 and 39 years of age and 0.16 ml/kg.min per year between 40 and 59 years of age. However, 30-39-year-old women had 7% higher VO2 max than the 20-29-year-old age group; and the difference in VO2 max between the group 30-39 and the group 40-49 years of age was 32%. The 20-29-and 40-49-year-old women had VO2 max 24 and 30% less than those of men in the same age range.