Greater Relative First and Second Lactate Thresholds in Females Compared With Males: Consideration for Exercise Prescription

José Antonio Benítez-Muñoz*, Miguel Ángel Rojo-Tirado, Pedro José Benito Peinado, Juan M. Murias, Domingo González-Lamuño, Rocío Cupeiro

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate differences between females and males at lactate thresholds 1 (LT1) and 2 (LT2). Methods: Twenty-four female and twenty male participants performed an incremental cycle-ergometer test until exhaustion, where LT1 and LT2 were determined in each volunteer. Results: Power output at LT1 and LT2 was lower in females than in males (P < .001). In addition, power output relative to peak power was higher in females at LT1 and LT2 (P < .001). However, heart rate was higher in females than males at LT1 and LT2 (P = .008). Furthermore, the heart rate relative to maximal heart rate was higher in females compared with males at LT1 and LT2 (P = .002). Conclusion: Females and males may be in a different metabolic situation at the same percentage of maximum. This study helps to reduce sex bias in science, and future guidelines should consider establishing exercise prescription recommendations according to sex. Clinical Trial: NCT06104150.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)30-36
Number of pages7
JournalInternational Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Volume20
Issue number1
Early online dateOct 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2025

Keywords

  • LT
  • heart rate
  • power
  • sex
  • women

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