Cardiac output differences in males and females during mild cycle ergometer exercise

To study sex differences in cardiac output during submaximum exercise, eight male and eight female subjects were matched on max Vo2 (1 min-1 and ml kg-1 min-1). Each subject performed one, eight minute submaximum bicycle ergometer test at 35% of Vo2max (300 kpm min-1). At a steady state mean Vo2 of 0.96 1 min-1, cardiac output was determined. Significant differences between men and women were observed (p less than .05) in cardiac output, stroke volume and (a-v) O2 difference. The males had a lower cardiac output (1.75 1 min-1) and stroke volume (17.2 ml beat-1) and a higher (a-v) O2 difference (2.01 vol %). When these variables were expressed independent of lean body weight the above differences were non-significant. It was suggested that cardiac output differences between the sexes during mild exercise are due, in part, to differences in lean body weight.