Estimation of the maximal lactate steady state in postmenopausal women

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to estimate the maximal lactate steady-state velocity (_vMLSS) from non-invasive bloodless variables and/or blood lactate-related thresholds (BL_RTs) measured during an Incremental submaximal Shuttle Test (IST), and to determine whether the addition of a Constant Velocity Test (CVT) could improve the estimation. Seventy-five postmenopausal women conducted an IST to determine several BL_RTs and bloodless variables, and two to seven CVTs to determine _vMLSS. Determined BL_RTs were conventionally used lactate threshold (LT) measured either visually (_vLT_+0.1mM) or mathematically (_vLE_min), and 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mmol·L⁻¹ above LT, along with fixed BL_RTs. The best single predictor of _vMLSS (7.1 ± 1.0 km·h⁻¹) was _vLE_min+1.5mM (R² = 0.80, P < 0.001; SEE = 0.46 km·h⁻¹). The combination of BL_RTs and bloodless variables improved the estimation of _vMLSS (R² = 0.85, P < 0.001; SEE = 0.38 km·h⁻¹). The addition of a CVT still improved the prediction of _vMLSS up to 89.2%, with lower SEE (0.32 km·h⁻¹). This study suggests that _vLE_min-related thresholds obtained from a single submaximal IST are accurate estimates of _vMLSS in postmenopausal women, and thus the time-consuming procedure of _vMLSS testing could be avoided. Performing an additional CVT is encouraged because it improves the prediction of _vMLSS.

KEYWORDS:

• Cardiorespiratory fitness
• blood lactate-related thresholds
• exercise testing
• intensity prescription

Acknowledgments

The authors express their appreciation to all participants of the study and the health medical centers involved in the recruitment of participants. The results of the present study are presented honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Erreka Gil-Rey was supported by a predoctoral fellowship from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).