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Int J Sports Med 2007; 28(6): 506-512
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924604
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Lactate Threshold does not Influence Metabolic Responses during Exercise in Cyclists

D. J. Bentley1 , 2 , L. R. McNaughton3 , S. Roberts2 , V. E. Vleck4 , L. Fairbanks5 , T. Marinaki5
  • 1Health and Exercise Science, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  • 2Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
  • 3Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Hull, Kingston-Upon-Hull, United Kingdom
  • 4Department of Human and Health Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
  • 5Purine Research Laboratory, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: July 30, 2006

Publication Date:
16 November 2006 (online)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare plasma markers of metabolic stress and other physiological parameters during prolonged endurance exercise of different intensity in trained subjects possessing a “high” or “low” lactate threshold (LT) expressed as a percentage (%) of peak power output (PPO). Fifteen trained male cyclists completed an incremental exercise test for determination of PPO and the LT (% PPO). Each subject then completed a 90-min and 20-min exercise trial at an intensity representing 75 and 85 % of PPO, respectively. Blood lactate (La), as well as plasma hypoxanthine (Hx) and uric acid (UA) were measured during each exercise trial. The responses in two groups, one (n = 8) with a LT ∼ 65 % PPO (LTlow), the other group (n = 7) with a LT ∼ 75 % (LThigh) (p < 0.01), were then compared. With the exception of UA, La and Hx increased significantly (p < 0.01) throughout each exercise trial compared to rest. However, there were no significant differences in each trial between the two groups of cyclists. There were also no significant differences in the other physiological parameters in each exercise trial between the subjects in LTlow and LThigh. This study demonstrates that in trained cyclists homogeneous in terms of PPO, plasma markers of metabolic demand during prolonged exercise are not influenced by the LT when measured in an incremental exercise test.

Key words

Energy - fatigue - endurance - testing - athletes

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PhD David J. Bentley

Health and Exercise Science
School of Medical Sciences
Wallace Wurth Building
The University of New South Wales

Sydney 2052

Australia

Phone: + 61 2 93 85 25 47

Fax: + 61 2 93 85 10 59

Email: d.bentley@unsw.edu.au