What is the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) of female athletes?

From the Guidelines

VO2max in female athletes is not directly reported in the provided studies, but based on the available data, it can be inferred that their VO2max values would likely be lower than those of male athletes, ranging from 40-60 ml/kg/min. This measurement represents the maximum rate of oxygen consumption during exercise and is a key indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness and aerobic performance capacity. The provided studies focus on male basketball players, with VO2max values ranging from 42 to 64 ml/kg/min, as reported in 1. However, a study from 1 suggests that VO2max values can be influenced by factors such as body size, and it is recommended to express VO2max as an absolute value and as a percentage of the predicted value, referenced to body weight and/or height. Female athletes generally have VO2max values about 10-15% lower than their male counterparts due to physiological differences, including higher body fat percentage, lower hemoglobin levels, smaller heart size, and less muscle mass. Training can significantly improve VO2max in female athletes through adaptations such as increased cardiac output, enhanced oxygen extraction by muscles, greater capillary density, and improved mitochondrial function. To effectively develop VO2max, female athletes should incorporate high-intensity interval training (HIIT), tempo runs, and progressive endurance workouts into their training regimens, typically 2-3 times weekly, as suggested by general training principles. Some key points to consider when evaluating VO2max in female athletes include:

• Menstrual cycle phases
• Iron status
• Training history These factors can influence VO2max measurements in female athletes, and regular testing every 3-6 months can help track improvements and adjust training accordingly. It is essential to note that the provided studies do not directly address VO2max in female athletes, and the information is based on general knowledge and inferences from the available data, including 1 and 1.

From the Research

VO2max of Female Athletes

• The VO2max of female athletes is a topic of interest in sports performance research, with studies suggesting that women have a lower VO2max compared to men, even when expressed as mL/kg/min 2.
• A study published in 1994 found that highly trained female endurance athletes had higher levels of VO2max compared to sedentary controls, with a mean VO2max of 48.6 +/- 1.9 ml/kg/min 3.
• Research has also explored the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on VO2max in female athletes, with a meta-analysis published in 2013 finding that HIIT resulted in a significant increase in VO2max, with a mean increase of 0.51 L/min 4.
• A more recent meta-analysis published in 2023 found that HIIT was effective in improving VO2max in elite female athletes, with a significant increase in VO2max compared to conventional training methods 5.
• Another study published in 2015 found that both endurance training and HIIT were effective in improving VO2max in healthy, young to middle-aged adults, with HIIT resulting in a possibly small beneficial effect compared to endurance training 6.

Factors Influencing VO2max in Female Athletes

• Oxygen delivery is a primary limiting factor in elite athletes, and research has suggested that sex differences in oxygen delivery may contribute to the differences in VO2max between men and women 2.
• Total blood volume has also been identified as a factor influencing VO2max, with studies suggesting that highly trained female athletes have elevated total blood volumes compared to sedentary controls 3.
• The effects of training on VO2max in female athletes may also be influenced by factors such as age, baseline fitness, and training duration, with research suggesting that younger subjects and those with lower baseline fitness may experience greater improvements in VO2max with training 4, 6.