Metabolic and ventilatory responses to steady state exercise relative to lactate thresholds

Summary The metabolic and ventilatory responses to steady state submaximal exercise on the cycle ergometer were compared at four intensities in 8 healthy subjects. The trials were performed so that, after a 10 min adaptation period, power output was adjusted to maintain steady state for 30 min at values equivalent to: (1) the aerobic threshold (AeT); (2) between the aerobic and the anaerobic threshold (AeTAnT); (3) the anaerobic threshold (AnT); and (4) between the anaerobic threshold and (AnTmax). Blood lactate concentration and ventilatory equivalents for O₂ and CO₂ demonstrated steady state values during the last 20 min of exercise at the AeT, AeAnT and AnT intensities, but increased progressively until fatigue in the AnTmax trial (mean time=16 min). Serum glycerol levels were significantly higher at 40 min of exercise on the AeAnT and the AnT when compared to AeT, while the respiratory exchange ratios were not significantly different from each other. Thus, metabolic and ventilatory steady state can be maintained during prolonged exercise at intensities up to and including the AnT, and fat continues to be a major fuel source when exercise intensities are increased from the AeT to the AnT in steady state conditions. The blood lactate response to exercise suggests that, for the organism as a whole, anaerobic glycolysis plays a minor role in the energy release system at exercise intensities upt to and including the AnT during steady state conditions.     

Effects of training at and above the lactate threshold on the lactate threshold and maximal oxygen uptake

Summary Thirty-three college women (mean age=21.8 years) participated in a 5 d·wk^–1, 12 week training program. Subjects were randomly assigned to 3 groups, above lactate threshold (> LT) (N=11; trained at 69 watts above the workload associated with LT), =LT (N=12; trained at the work load associated with LT) and control (C) (N=10). Subjects were assessed for , LT, LT/ , before and after training, using a discontinuous 3 min incremental (starting at 0 watts increasing 34 watts each work load) protocol on a cycle ergometer (Monark). Respiratory gas exchange measures were determined using standard open circuit spirometry while LT was determined from blood samples taken immediately following each work load from an indwelling venous catheter located in the back of a heated hand. Body composition parameters were determined before and after training via hydrostatic weighing. Training work loads were equated so that each subject expended approximately 1465 kJ per training session (Monark cycle ergometer) regardless of training intensity. Pretraining, no significant differences existed between groups for any variable. Post training the > LT group had significantly higher (13%), (47%) and LT/ (33%) values as compared to C (p<.05). Within group comparisons revealed that none of the groups significantly changed as a result of training, only the > LT group showed a significant increase in (48%) (p<.05), while both the = LT and > LT group showed significant increases in LT/ (= LT 16%, > LT 42% (p<.05)). No differences were found between or within groups post training for body composition parameters. It was concluded that training above the LT results in an improvement in LT and that large improvements in may not be required for large improvements in .Data were collected at the Human Performance Laboratory, University of Colorado     

Doppler echocardiographic analysis of diastolic left ventricular function in dialysis patients and its relation to intradialytic hypotension

Summary Doppler echocardiography was used to evaluate left ventricular relaxation and filling in 20 patients on chronic maintenance hemodialysis. In comparison with 11 normal controls hemodialysed patients showed a marked prolongation of isovolumic relaxation period (83±23 ms vs 67±11 ms,P<0.01). Peak velocity of early diastolic filling was similar in both groups, but peak velocity of late ventricular filling due to atrial contraction was substantially increased in dialysis patients (66±23 cm/s vs 37±7 cm/s,P<0.01) and the ratio late to early peak velocity was significantly enlarged (0.97±0.35 vs 0.58±0.19,P<0.01). Although left ventricular mass index, as determined by Echo, was markedly increased in dialysis patients, no significant correlation was found between ventricular mass and indexes of diastolic function. When patients were divided into two groups on the basis of development of hypotension during dialysis clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were similar, although patients with dialysis hypotension (n=9) were significantly older (53±9 years) than normotensiv patients (n=11, 42±14 years,P<0.05). Indexes of diastolic function showed a great overlap between the two groups, but ratio late to early peak velocity was significantly greater in patients with intradialytic hypotension (1.13±0.35 vs 0.83±0.32,P<0.05). It is concluded that dialysis patients exhibit significant alterations of left ventricular relaxation and diastolic filling as assessed by Doppler echocardiography which might be independent of left ventricular hypertrophy. Impaired diastolic function might contribute to intradialytic hypotension.Abbreviations DEF deceleration of early diastolic flow - IVRP isovolumic relaxation period - peakA peak velocity of late left ventricular filling - peakE peak velocity of early left ventricular filling     

Effect of exercise duration during incremental exercise on the determination of anaerobic threshold and the onset of blood lactate accumulation

Summary To determine the effect of the duration of incremental exercise on the point at which arterial blood lactate concentration (HLa) increases above the resting value (anaerobic threshold: AT) and on the point at which HLa reaches a constant value of 4 mM (onset of blood lactate accumulation: OBLA), eight male students performed two different kinds of incremental exercise. A comparison of arterial HLa and venous HLa was made under both conditions of incremental exercise. The incremental bicycle exercise tests consisted of 25 W increase every minute (1-min test) and every 4 min (4-min test). At maximal exercise, there were no significant differences in either gas exchange parameters or HLa values for the two kinds of incremental exercise. However, the peak workloads attained during the two exercises were significantly different (P<0.01). At OBLA and AT, there were no significant differences in gas exchange parameters during the 1-min and 4-min tests except for the workload (at OBLAP<0.01; at ATP<0.05). When venous blood HLa was used instead of arterial HLa for a 4-min test, AT was not significantly different from that obtained by arterial HLa, but OBLA was significantly different from that obtained by arterial HLa (P<0.05). On the other hand, for the 1-min test, venous HLa values yielded significantly higher AT and OBLA compared with those obtained using arterial HLa (P<0.01).It was concluded that when arterial blood was used, there was no effect of duration of workload increase in an incremental exercise test on the determination of the AT and OBLA expressed in . On the other hand, when venous HLa was used instead of arterial blood, these points might be overestimated when a fast increase in workload, such as the 1-min test, is used.     

Functional changes in left ventricular hypertrophy: diagnosis of impaired diastolic function in patients with hypertension

Summary Left ventricular hypertrophy is usually associated with impaired left ventricular diastolic function which can be characterised by an altered pressure volume relationship. Since diastolic flow velocities are closely related to the difference in pressure between the left atrium and left ventricle, parameters of diastolic function can be determined by Doppler echocardiography. However, the pressure difference is additionally influenced by factors which have no relation to left ventricular diastolic function. These include preload, afterload, inotropy, heart rate and left ventricular systolic function. Despite these limitations, Doppler echocardiography is a valuable tool to diagnose therapeutic effects on diastolic function in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.     

The effect of hormone replacement therapy on diastolic left ventricular function in hypertensive and normotensive postmenopausal women

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on left ventricular diastolic function in a group of hypertensive and normotensive postmenopausal women. Methods: Left ventricular diastolic function at rest was evaluated by M-mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography in 19 postmenopausal women with normal blood pressure and 11 postmenopausal women with mild hypertension, before treatment and during 12 months of HRT. Transdermal estradiol was used in women with a surgical menopause and a sequential regimen of transdermal estradiol and peroral medroxyprogesterone acetate in women with a spontaneous menopause. The parameters assessed were: body mass index, heart rate, ejection fraction of the left ventricle (EF), septal (SW) and posterior wall (PW) dimensions, left ventricular end-systolic (LVsd) and end-diastolic (LVdd) dimensions and volumes (ESV, EDV), total diastolic time (DT), duration of the early (Ei) and of the late (Ai) filling phase, peak velocity of the early (E) and late mitral flow (A), A/E velocity ratio and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Quantitative data were analyzed using unpaired t-test, MANOVA and multiple regression analysis where appropriate. Results: Hypertensive postmenopausal women had significantly higher SW (P<0.05), PW (P<0.05), A/E (P<0.05) and A (P<0.001) than normotensive postmenopausal women, before therapy. After 12 months of HRT a significant decrease in SW, PW, LVsd, ESV and increase in EF, DT, Ei and E was observed in both hypertensive and normotensive postmenopausal women. Heart rate slowed and systolic pressure decreased significantly only in normotensive postmenopausal women on HRT. Conclusion: HRT of 12 months' duration does not deteriorate left ventricular diastolic function of both hypertensive and normotensive postmenopausal women. Improvement in some parameters of diastolic function could be partially explained by the decrease in heart rate and systolic pressure, induced by therapy.     

压力负荷诱导大鼠心肌重塑早期左室舒张功能评价

目的: 探讨压力负荷诱导大鼠心肌肥厚和左室舒张功能的评价方法。方法: 采用横向主动脉缩窄法(TAC)建立压力负荷诱导大鼠心肌重塑模型,应用超声心动图、有创血流动力学检测及心肌组织中羟脯氨酸含量测定等方法评价左室结构和舒张功能。结果: (1)超声心动图测定的TAC组术后3周大鼠左室壁厚度显著大于假手术组 ;TAC组术后3周左室后壁心肌舒张早期运动速度(E')与假手术组相比显著下降 ,术后6周进一步降低。(2)解剖称重左室重量/胫骨长度在TAC组显著高于假手术组 。(3)TAC组校正的左室内压力最大下降速度(dp/dt_min/LVSP)在术后3周有下降趋势(48.9±5.9 vs 63.5±9.9 ),术后6周下降显著(35.4±4.0 vs 54.4±2.9,P<0.01)。 (4)天狼猩红染色可见TAC组血管周围胶原沉积明显多于假手术组,术后6周TAC组心肌组织中羟脯氨酸含量显著高于假手术组 。 结论: 超声心动图组织多普勒测定左室后壁心肌运动速度是评价压力负荷心肌重塑大鼠早期左室舒张功能异常的可靠指标。     

Noninvasive detection of the anaerobic threshold during computer-controlled exercise testing

A computer-controlled instrument configuration is described which is capable of the noninvasive detection of the anaerobic threshold of a subject during exercise testing. Analogue signals representing physiological information are acquired and processed by a small microcomputer incorporating a novel synchronous integration technique. Results are presented which demonstrate the correlation of the determination of the anaerobic threshold by this technique to the results obtained from the conventional invasive method of blood lactic acid determinations.     

Comparison of heart rate as a non-invasive determinant of anaerobic threshold with the lactate threshold when cycling

Summary In 9 trained athletes and 4 sedentary subjects the anaerobic threshold was assessed on a cycle ergometer, using the deflection point of heart rate in a protocol in which the workload increased by 10 W every 45 s. The workload at which plasma lactate concentration equalled 4 mmol · l^–1 was assessed under steady state conditions on separate occasions. In addition, in 3 subjects the non-invasive anaerobic threshold and the 4 mmol · l^–1 lactate level under steady state conditions were assessed on a treadmill. On the cycle ergometer 6 subjects demonstrated a deflection point in the heart rate record, whereas the others failed to do so. The workload at which heart rate departed from linearity in the progressive protocol did not coincide with the steady state 4 mmol · l^–1 workload but occurred at a higher workload. On the treadmill no deflection in heart rate was observed. It is concluded that in cyclists a deflection in heart rate does not always occur, and when it does, it does not coincide with the anaerobic threshold determined under steady state conditions.     

Critical analysis of the “anaerobic threshold” during exercise at constant workloads

Summary The method described by Wasserman for anaerobic threshold (AT) determination, based on the recording of ventilatory parameters, was supported by the simultaneous appearance of hyperlactacidemia and hyperventilation during a standardized incremental work test. Our study aimed at testing the AT in another profile of exercise, viz., during exercises at constant workloads.A homogenous population of 66 healthy subjects performed on a treadmill a total of 100 exercises of 20 min duration at constant workloads (43, 48, 52, 57, 63, and 71% O₂max). The O₂, , and venous plasma lactic acid (LA) were determined every minute.LA showed an initial transient increase at 43% O₂ max and a steady-state elevated level above 48% O₂ max. In contrast, the hyperventilation threshold (HVT) was only observed above 57% O₂ max, simultaneously with a delayed steady-state O₂ and with a sustained increase of lactate until the end of exercise.The meaning of the simultaneity of these three events must still be studied. However, the dissociation between both early and steady-state lactate thresholds and HVT is not in keeping with the concept of AT. In these conditions, there is no evidence that HVT necessarily represents an AT, viz., a critical intensity of exercise inducing an insufficient oxygen delivery to the muscles. This conclusion does not imply that the measurement of HVT should be rejected as an empirical test of physical fitness.     

Effects of previous exercise on the ventilatory determination of the aerobic threshold

Summary To study the effects of previous submaximal exercise on the ventilatory determination of the Aerobic Threshold (AeT), 16 men were subjected to three maximal exercise tests (standard test = ST, retest = RT, and test with previous exercise = TPE) on a cycle ergometer. The protocol for the three tests consisted of 3 min pedalling against 25 W, followed by increments of 25 W every minute until volitional fatigue. TPE was preceded by 10 min cycling at a power output corresponding to the AeT as determined in ST, followed by a recovery period pedalling against 25 W until returned to values consistent with the initial response to 25 W. AeT was determined from the gas exchange curves (ventilatory equivalent for O₂, fraction of expired O₂, excess of , ventilation, and respiratory gas exchange ratio) printed every 30 s. The results showed good ST×RT reliability (r=0.89). TPE showed significantly higher AeT values (2.548±0.44 l·min^–1) when compared with ST (2.049±0.33 l·min^–1) and RT (2.083±0.30 l·min^–1). There were no significant differences for the sub-threshold respiratory gas exchange ratios among the trials. The sub-threshold response showed significantly higher values for TPE at power outputs above 50 W. It was concluded that the performance of previous exercise can increase the value for the ventilatory determination of the AeT due to a faster sub-threshold response.Supported by fellowship number 3660/80-3, CAPES, Brazil     

The effects of one- and two-legged exercise on the lactate and ventilatory threshold

Summary The purpose of this investigation was to compare differences between one- and two-legged exercise on the lactate (LT) and ventilation (VT) threshold. On four separate occasions, eight male volunteer subjects (1-leg =3.36 l · min^–1; 2-leg =4.27 l · min^–1) performed 1- and 2-legged submaximal and maximal exercise. Submaximal threshold tests for 1- and 2-legs, began with a warm-up at 50 W and then increased every 3 minutes by 16 W and 50 W, respectively. Similar increments occurred every minute for the maximal tests. Venous blood samples were collected during the last 30 s of each work load, whereas noninvasive gas measures were calculated every 30 s. No differences in (l · min^–1) were found between 1- and 2-legs at LT or VT, but significant differences (p<0.05) were recorded at a given power output. Lactate concentration ([LA]) was different (p<0.05) between 1-and 2-legs (2.52 vs. 1.97 mmol · l^–1) at LT. This suggests it is rather than muscle mass which affects LT and VT. for 1-leg exercise was 79% of the 2-leg value. This implies the central circulation rather than the peripheral muscle is limiting to .Supported by NSERC A7555     

Effect of lung resection on blood lactate threshold in lung cancer patients

Summary We studied the effect of a decrease in vital capacity (VC) on the blood lactate threshold detected during exercise in 16 preoperative (PRE) and 10 postoperative (POST) lung cancer patients who had undergone lobectomy or pneumonectomy. The PRE patients were selected on the basis of having normal preoperative pulmonary function. The POST patients were selected on the basis of having normal preoperative pulmonary function and a postoperative VC of less than 80%. The oxygen consumption/body surface area at a 2.2 m.mol·l^–1 arterial lactate concentration ( / BSA at La-2.2) was adopted as the blood lactate threshold. VC/BSA in the POST group significantly correlated with /BSA at La-2.2 (r=0.85, P<0.01), but not in the PRE group. SaO₂ at La-2.2 was 95.4+-1.5% in the PRE group and 95.2+-1.3% in the POST group. SaO₂ at La-2.2 did not correlate with VC/BSA in either group. The hemoglobin concentration (Hb) in the arterial blood correlated significantly with VC/BSA in the POST group (r= 0.65, P< 0.05) but not in the PRE group. These results indicate that /BSA at La-2.2 was restricted by VC in patients with restrictive pulmonary function disorder. Of the three elements of oxygen delivery, Hb was a limiting factor for /BSA at La-2.2 but SaO₂ was not. Cardiac output, which was not measured in our study, was speculated to be another limiting factor for _388-05 at La-2.2     

The validity of anaerobic threshold determination by a Douglas bag method compared with arterial blood lactate concentration

Summary Using an open circuit system (Douglas bag method), measurement of the anaerobic threshold (AT) was performed on ten healthy male college students during an incremental exercise test on a bicycle ergometer in an attempt to determine the validity of this method as compared with arterial blood lactate AT measurement.Blood samples were taken from either the radial or brachial artery through a Teflon catheter (3 ml/each time) every minute until the subject's maximal exercise tolerance was reached. Blood lactate was analyzed by the enzymatic method.Differences in work rate, O₂, % O_{2 max}, _E, HR, and R at AT _LA (AT determined by the increase in blood lactate) and at AT _GE (gas exchange AT based on the non-linear increases in _E, CO₂, and other respiratory parameters), respectively, were all found to be statistically insignificant. There was a significant correlation (r=0.866, p<0.01) between AT _LA and AT _GE when expressed in O₂ values (l/min). There was also a significant correlation between AT _LA and O_{2 max} (r=0.778, p<0.01). These results indicate that the commonly used Douglas bag method could provide a valid non-invasive measure of anaerobic threshold.     

Effect of previous supramaximal work on lacticaemia during supra-anaerobic threshold exercise

Summary Twelve male and female subjects (eight trained, four untrained) exercised for 30 min on a treadmill at an intensity of maximal O₂ consumption (% O_2max) 90.0%, SD 4.7 greater than the anaerobic threshold of 4 mmol ·1^–1 (Th_an =83.6% O_2max, SD 8.9). Time-dependent changes in blood lactate concentration ([la_b]) during exercise occurred in two phases: the oxygen uptake ( O₂) transient phase (from 0 to 4 min) and the O₂ steady-state phase (4–30 min). During the transient phase, [la_b] increased markedly (l.30 mmol · l ^–1 · min ^–1, SD 0.13). During the steady-state phase, [la_b] increased slightly (0.02 mmol · 1^–1 · min^–1, SD 0.06) and when individual values were considered, it was seen that there were no time-dependent increases in [la_b] in half of the subjects. Following hyperlacticaemia (8.8 mmol -l^–1, SD 2.0) induced by a previous 2 min of supramaximal exercise (120% O_2max), [la_b] decreased during the O₂ transient (–0.118 mmol · 1^–1 · min^–1, SD 0.209) and steady-state (–0.088 mmol · 1^–1 · min ^–1, SD 0.103) phases of 30 min exercise (91.4% O_2max, SD 4.8). In conclusion, it was not possible from the Th_an to determine the maximal [la_b] steady state for each subject. In addition, lactate accumulated during previous supramaximal exercise was eliminated during the O₂ transient phase of exercise performed at an intensity above the Th_an. This effect is probably largely explained by the reduction in oxygen deficit during the transient phase. Under these conditions, the time-course of changes in [la_b] during the O₂ steady state was also affected.     

Effects of aerobic exercise conditioning at intensities corresponding to lactate threshold in the elderly

Summary In this study we attempted to determine the effects of exercise training at the intensity corresponding to lactate threshold (Th_la ^–) on various health-related variables in sedentary but apparently healthy elderly subjects. Six men and five women volunteers [mean age 68.9 (SD 3.4) years] performed supervised endurance-type training on stationary cycle ergometers for 30 min and recreational activities for 30 min, 3 days a week for 12 weeks. Four men and four women served as the control group [68.8 (SD 4.4) years]. As a result of the training programme, statistically significant increases in maximal oxygen consumption (10%), oxygen consumption at Th_la ^–(18%), distance covered in 12-min walk, side step, and leg extensor power were found in the training group, while no changes occurred in the control group. The changes in serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations from the pre- to post-training period were statistically significant. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol remained unchanged, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol tended to decrease following the training programme. These data would indicate that exercise training at the intensity corresponding to Th_la ^–may have favourable effects on overall physical fitness and some serum lipid variables in older individuals.     

Physiological responses during prolonged exercise at the power output corresponding to the blood lactate threshold

Summary Heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake at the mechanical power corresponding to the capillary blood lactate ([1a]_cap) of 4 mmol·1^–1 (W _It) were measured in 34 healthy male subjects during incremental exercise . On the basis of these measurements, the subjects were asked to cycle at W1, for 60 min (steady-state exercise, . Twenty subjects could not reach the target time (mean exhaustion time, te, 38.2 min, SD 5.3), while 6 of the 14 remaining subjects declared themselves exhausted at the end of exercise. The final [la]_cap if the two groups of exhausted subjects were 5.3 mmol · 1^–1, SD 2.3 and 4.3 mmol · 1^–1, SD 1.1, respectively. At the end of [la]_cap and HR were significantly lower in the 8 unexhausted subjects than in the other subjects. This group also had a lower HR at during . The HR and appeared to be higher during than during . When all subjects were ranked according to theirt _e during , (expressed per kilogram of body mass) was found to be negatively related to t _e . In conclusion, during , measurements of physiological variables at fixed [la]_cap give a poor prediction of their trends during W,, and of the relative t _e ; at the same work load [la]_cap can be quite different in the two experimental conditions. Furthermore, resistance to exercise fatigue at seems lower in the fitter subjects.     

Arterial versus venous blood lactate increase in the forearm during incremental bicycle exercise

Summary Eight male subjects were studied during incremental bicycle exercise. From the forearm, arterial and venous blood lactate concentrations were measured every minute until exhaustion. There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.01) in the points at which the arterial and venous blood lactates began to increase above the resting level. The onset of increase of lactate in arterial blood occurred at 1.00±0.07 l·min^–1 in O₂ (mean ± SEM), which corresponded to 37.0±1.5% of O_2max. Its venous counterpart occurred at 1.50±0.17 l·min^–1 in O₂, 55.0±3.8% of O_2max. The arterio-venous lactate difference became greater after the onset of increase in arterial blood lactate (anaerobic threshold), presumably as consequence of lactate utilization by the forearm muscles.It was concluded that the onset of blood lactate increase differs according to the sites of blood sampling, which should be considered for the interpretation of anaerobic threshold.     

Psychomotor performance during prolonged exercise above and below the blood lactate threshold

Previous investigations from this laboratory have demonstrated that during graded exercise with exercise intensities increasing every 3 min until exhaustion the multiple choice reaction time (RT) decreased until the intensity exceeded the lactate threshold (LT) by approximately 25%, and then rapidly increased. The aim of this study was to follow up changes in RT during prolonged exercise at constant intensities above and below LT and to relate these changes to changes in venous blood lactate [La⁻]_b, and plasma catecholamine [CA]_pl concentration responses to the exercise. For this purpose eight young soccer players exercised for 20-min on a cycle ergometer at 10% above LT, and nine exercised for 60 min at an intensity 30% below LT. During both tests RT, heart rate (HR), as well as [La⁻]_b, and [CA]_pl were measured. Above LT, RT decreased from the 5th min until the end of exercise, whilst HR, [La⁻]_b, and [CA]_pl increased progressively. Significant inverse correlations were ascertained between RT and plasma adrenaline (r = − 0.651) and noradrenaline concentrations (r = − 0.678). During exercise below LT, RT decreased up to approximately 40 min, then it reached a nadir, and stabilized at this level. This was accompanied by only small changes in [La⁻]_b and [CA]_pl. The present findings would indicate that young athletes are able to maintain for a relatively long time, or even increase, their psychomotor performance during endurance exercise both below and above the LT. Accepted: 23 June 1997     

Effect of ageing on the ventilatory response and lactate kinetics during incremental exercise in man

We investigated the effects of age on breathing pattern, mouth occlusion pressure, the ratio of mouth occlusion pressure to mean inspiratory flow, and venous blood lactate kinetics during incremental exercise. Mouth occlusion pressure was used as an index of inspiratory neuromuscular activity, and its ratio to mean inspiratory flow was used as an index of the “effective impedance” of the respiratory system. Nine elderly male subjects [mean (SD) age: 68.1 (4.8) years] and nine young male subjects [mean (SD) age: 23.4 (1.3) years] performed an incremental exercise test on a bicycle ergometer. After a warm-up at 30 W, the power was increased by 30 W every 1.5 min until exhaustion. Our results showed that at maximal exercise, power output, breathing pattern, and respiratory exchange values, with the exception of tidal volume and the “effective impedance” of the respiratory system, were significantly higher in the young subjects. The power output and oxygen consumption values at the anaerobic threshold were also significantly higher in the young men. At the same power output, the elderly subjects showed significantly higher values for minute ventilation, respiratory equivalents for oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output (CO₂), mean inspiratory flow, occlusion pressure and lactate concentration than the young subjects. At the same CO₂ below the anaerobic threshold (0.5, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 l · min⁻¹), minute ventilation and lactate concentration were also significantly higher in the elderly subjects. We observed a significantly higher minute ventilation at CO₂ values of 0.5, 0.75, 1.00 (P < 0.001) and 1.25 l · min⁻¹ (P < 0.05) in the elderly men, and a significantly higher lactate concentration at CO₂ values of 1.00 (P < 0.05) and 1.25 l · min⁻¹ (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the ventilatory response in elderly subjects is elevated in comparison with that in young subjects, both below and above the anaerobic threshold. This study demonstrates for the first time that this ventilatory increase, both below and above the threshold, is partly due to an increased lactate concentration. Received: 30 March 1999 / Accepted: 24 June 1999