Decline in V̇O(2 max) with aging in master athletes and sedentary men

Fifteen well-trained master endurance athletes [62.0 ± 2.3 (SE) yr] and 14 sedentary control subjects (61.4 ± 1.4 yr) were reevaluated after an average follow-up period of ~ 8 yr to obtain information regarding the effects of physical activity on the age-related decline in maximal O₂ uptake capacity (V̇O(2 max)). The master athletes had been training for 10.2 ± 2.9 yr before initial testing and continued to train during the follow-up period. The sedentary subjects' V̇O(2 max) declined by an average of 3.3 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1 (33.9 ± 1.7 vs. 30.6 ± 1.6, P < 0.001) over the course of the study, a decline of 12% per decade. In these subjects maximal heart rate declined 8 beats/min (171 vs. 163) and maximal O₂ pulse decreased from 0.20 to 0.18 ml · kg^-1 · beat (P < 0.05). The master athletes' V̇O(2 max) decreased by an average of 2.2 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1 (54.0 ± 1.7 vs. 51.8 ± 1.8, P < 0.05), a 5.5% decline per decade. The master athletes' maximal heart rate was unchanged (171 ± 3 beats/min) and their maximal O₂ pulse decreased from 0.32 to 0.30 ml · kg^-1 · beat (P < 0.05). These findings provide evidence that the age-related decrease in V̇O(2 max) of master athletes who continue to engage in regular vigorous endurance exercise training is approximately one-half the rate of decline seen in age-matched sedentary subjects. Furthermore our results suggest that endurance exercise training may reduce the rate of decline in maximal heart rate that typically occurs as an individual ages.