From the Guidelines
Lifestyle and exercise can influence 10% to 30% of oxygen uptake (VO2 max).
Factors Influencing VO2 max
- Endurance training is a key factor that can increase VO2 max by 10% to 30% primarily by increasing maximal stroke volume and aV˙ O2 difference 1.
- The percentage of VO2 max that can be influenced by lifestyle and exercise can vary depending on the individual's initial fitness level, with previously sedentary individuals potentially seeing larger increases in VO2 max with exercise training 1.
Measurement of VO2 max
- VO2 max is typically measured using a maximal exercise test, and the attainment of a plateau in VO2 between the final 2 exercise work rates is often used to define true VO2 max 1.
- However, in clinical practice, the term peak VO2 is more commonly used to express exercise capacity, as it is often difficult to determine whether a true plateau in VO2 has been reached 1.
Importance of VO2 max
- VO2 max is an important indicator of aerobic capacity and can be influenced by lifestyle and exercise habits 1.
- Regular exercise and physical activity can increase VO2 max, which can have a positive impact on overall health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality 1.
From the Research
Influence of Lifestyle and Exercise on VO2 Max
- VO2 max is known to be influenced by lifestyle factors, such as exercise and smoking 2
- Exercise habits have been suggested to increase VO2 max, while body mass index (BMI), age, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) may decrease VO2 max in both males and females 2
- The intensity of aerobic training has been shown to affect VO2 max, with higher intensities resulting in greater increases in VO2 max 3
- A physical exercise program combining strength with cardiorespiratory fitness has been shown to significantly improve VO2 max in sedentary adults with cardiovascular risk factors 4
- A meta-regression and meta-analysis study found that exercise training intensity has no effect on the magnitude of training-induced increases in maximal oxygen uptake in young healthy human participants 5
Percentage Increase in VO2 Max
- A study found that near-maximal-intensity exercise resulted in a 20.6% increase in VO2 max, while vigorous-intensity and moderate-intensity exercise resulted in 14.3% and 10.0% increases, respectively 3
- Another study found that a 10-week physical exercise program resulted in significant improvements in VO2 max, with the most pronounced increase among males in the highest age band (56-73 years) 4
- A meta-analysis study found that exercise training resulted in mean increases in VO2 max of 0.29-0.35 l/min, corresponding to effect sizes of 0.68-0.80 5
Factors Affecting VO2 Max
- Age, BMI, SBP, and smoking have been identified as factors that may affect VO2 max 2
- Exercise intensity, session dose, and total training volume have also been shown to influence VO2 max 3, 5
- The concept of VO2 max as a parametric measure of cardiorespiratory capacity has been supported by studies demonstrating a plateau in VO2 during incremental exercise 6