Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(8): 559-564
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-43267
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Gender Influence on the Oxygen Consumption of the Respiratory Muscles in Young and Older Healthy Individuals

N.  Topin1 , P.  Mucci2 , M.  Hayot1 , C.  Prefaut1 , M.  Ramonatxo1
  • 1Laboratoire de Physiologie des Interactions, CHU Arnaud De Villeneuve, Montpellier, France
  • 2Laboratoire d’Analyse Multidisciplinaire des Pratiques Sportives, Université d’Artois, Liévin, France
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: February 24, 2003

Publication Date:
04 November 2003 (online)

Abstract

To understand the influence of gender on oxygen consumption of respiratory muscles (V·O2resp), 32 healthy subjects participated in the study (16 males, 16 females). They were divided into four groups: young males, young females, older males and older females. We used a closed circuit device which allowed a continuous increase in external dead space at a constant rate of 300 ml per 90 s and was equipped with a 9-L Gould spirometer filled with 100 % O2. As log V·O2tot (total body O2 consumption) was linearly related to V·E, we calculated the slope value (log V·O2tot/V·E) and the Y -intercept (V·E = 0) of the semilog regression, representing the increase of V·O2resp and log V·O2met (metabolic O2 consumption). The main results showed that the mean of the individual slope Δ(logV·O2tot/V·E) was steeper in the females than in the males in young and also in older subjects. In addition, V·O2met in young and older females was lower compared with that in age-matched males. Therefore, we conclude that the oxygen cost of breathing was higher in females versus males subjects.

References

  • 1 Aaron E A, Seow K C, Johnson B D, Dempsey J A. Oxygen cost of exercise hyperpnea: implications for performance.  J Appl Physiol. 1992;  72 1818-1825
  • 2 Ahmaïdi S, Comte D, Topin N, Hayot M, Delanaud S, Ramonatxo M, His N, Vardon G, Freville M, Libert J P, Prefaut C h. Reliability of a new device to assess the oxygen consumption of human respiratory muscles.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 1076-1082
  • 3 Altman P L, Dittmer D S. Fédérations des sociétés américaines de biologie expérimentales. Metabolism Bethesda, Md, USA; 1968
  • 4 Bartlett R G, Bruback H F, Specht H. Oxygen cost of breathing.  J Appl Physiol. 1958;  12 413-424
  • 5 Cherniack R M. The oxygen consumption and efficiency of the respiratory muscles in healthy and emphysema.  J Clin Invest. 1959;  38 494-499
  • 6 Cherniack R M. Oxygen cost of breathing as a limiting factor in physical performance. Proc Intern Symp Hypoxia. New-York;. 1966: 346-359
  • 7 Campbell E JM, Westlake E K, Cherniack R M. Simple methods of estimating oxygen consumption and efficiency of the muscles of breathing.  J Appl Physiol. 1957;  11 303-308
  • 8 Chen H, KUO C. Relationship between respiratory muscle function and age, sex, and other factors.  J Appl Physiol. 1989;  66 943-948
  • 9 Colett P W, Engel L A. Influence of lung volume on oxygen cost of resistive breathing.  J Appl Physiol. 1986;  61 16-24
  • 10 Estenne M, Yernault J C, de Troyer A. Rib cage and diaphragm - abdomen compliance in humans : effects of age and posture.  J Appl Physiol. 1985;  59 1842-1848
  • 11 Fritts H W, Filler J, Fishman A P, Cournand A. The efficiency of ventilation during voluntary hypernea: studies in normal subjects and in dyspneic patients with either chronic pulmonary emphysema or obesity.  J Clin Invest. 1959;  38 1339-1348
  • 12 Garfinkel F, Fitzgerald R S. The effect of hyperoxia, hypoxia and hypercapnia on FRC and occlusion pressure in human subjects.  Respir Physiol. 1978;  33 241-250
  • 13 Gibson G J, Pride N B, O’Cain C, Quagliato R. Sex and age differences in pulmonary mechanics in normal nonsmoking subjects.  J Appl Physiol. 1976;  41 20-25
  • 14 Hoffstein V. Relationship between lung volume, maximal expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in one second, and tracheal area in normal men and women.  Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986;  134 956-961
  • 15 Keys A. Basal metabolism and age of adult men.  Metabolism. 1973;  22 579
  • 16 Lukaski H C, Johnson P E, Bolonchuk W W, Lykken G I. Assessment of fat-free mass using bioelectrical impedance measurements of the human body.  Am J Clin Nutr. 1985;  41 810-817
  • 17 Milic-Emili G, Petit J M. Il lavoro meccanico della respirazione a varia frequenza respiratoria.  Arch Sci Biol. 1959;  43 326-330
  • 18 Mittman C, Edelman N H, Norris A H, Shock N W. Relationship between chest wall and pulmonary compliance and age.  J Appl Physiol. 1965;  20 1211-1216
  • 19 Paltiel W, Suo J, Fernandez E, Cherniack R M. Efficiency of the respiratory muscles in healthy individuals.  Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989;  140 392-396
  • 20 Quanjer P H, Tammeling G L, Cotes J E, Pedersen O F, Peslin R, Yernault J C. Lung volumes and forced ventilatory flows.  Eur Resp J. 1993;  6 5-40
  • 21 Shindoh C, Hida W, Kikuchi Y, Taguchi O, Miki H, Takishima T, Shirato H. Oxygen consumption of respiratory muscles in patients with COPD.  Chest. 1994;  105 790-797
  • 22 Takishima T, Shindoh C, Kikuchi Y, Hida W, Inoue H. Aging effect on oxygen consumption of respiratory muscles in humans.  J Appl Physiol. 1990;  69 14-20
  • 23 Tarnopolsky M A, Bosman M, Mac Donald JR , Vandeputte D, Martin J, Roy B D. Postexercise protein-carbohydrate and carbohydrate supplements increase muscle glycogen in men and women.  J Appl Physiol. 1997;  83 1877-1883
  • 24 Tarnopolsky M A, Atkinson S A, Phillips S M, Mac Donald JD. Carbohydrate loading and metabolism during exercise in men and women.  J Appl Physiol. 1995;  78 1360-1368
  • 25 White D P, Douglas N J, Pickett C K, Weil J V, Zwillich C W. Sexual influence on the control of breathing.  J Appl Physiol. 1983;  54 874-879
  • 26 White D P, Lombard R M, Cadieux R J, Zwillich C W. Pharyngeal resistance in normal humans : influence of gender, age, and obesity.  J Appl Physiol. 1985;  58 365-371
  • 27 Zar J H. Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ; 1996: 353-369

N. Topin

Laboratoire de Physiologie des Interactions · Service Central de Physiologie Clinique

CHU Arnaud De Villeneuve · 34295 Montpellier, Cedex 5 · France ·

Phone: +33 0467 3359 08

Fax: +33 0467 3359 23

Email: nathtopin@hotmail.com

    >