Interrelationship between sex, age, blood volume and VO 2 max
- Battlefield Health and Trauma Center for Human Integrative Physiology USAISR San Antonio TX
Background Circulating blood volume (BV) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2 max) are physiological characteristics important for optimal human performance in aerospace and military operational environments. Addressing the interrelationships between BV, VO 2 max, sex, and age together is relevant to identifying those individuals with greatest risk of poor outcomes from hemorrhage, as well as assessing the levels of performance competence of individuals deployed in operational environments. In the present investigation, we report and compare for the first time BV and VO 2 max in a cohort of males and females together to test the hypothesis that BV and VO 2 max is lower in older people independent of sex. Methods To accomplish this, a ‘data mining’ effort of an historic database generated from NASA and U.S. Air Force experiments was conducted. BV, red cell volume, plasma volume, hematocrit, and VO 2 max were measured in 94 healthy individuals (28 females, 66 males) across an age range of 23 to 65 years to assess the interrelationship between sex, age, BV, and VO 2 max. Subjects were classified in age groups by < 40 years and ≥ 40 years; these groups identified females as pre‐ vs. post‐menopausal. Results Consistent with our hypothesis, comparisons revealed that males had higher (p < 0.01) BV, red cell volume, hematocrit, and VO 2 max than females when standardized for body size. Against expectations, BV was not different in older compared with younger males and females. VO 2 max was not different in older compared with younger females, while VO 2 max was lower in older males (p < 0.01). Conclusion We conclude that physiological mechanisms other than BV associated with aging appear to be responsible for a decline in VO 2 max of our older male subjects. Furthermore, factors other than menopause may also influence the control of BV in the female population. Our results provide evidence that aging may not compromise males or females in scenarios where BV can affect performance in aerospace and military environments. Support or Funding Information This research was supported in part by appointment of Ms. Koons to the Postgraduate Research Fellowship Program at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the US Department of Energy and USAMRMC. Study funding was provided by a grant from the US Army Combat Casualty Care Research Program (D‐009‐2014‐USAISR). This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 1786661
- Journal Information:
- FASEB Journal, Journal Name: FASEB Journal Journal Issue: S1 Vol. 33; ISSN 0892-6638
- Publisher:
- FASEBCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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