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Blood glucose threshold and the metabolic responses to incremental exercise tests with and without prior lactic acidosis induction

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Abstract

This study compared the metabolic–ventilatory responses and the glycemic threshold identified during lactate minimum (LM) and individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) tests. In addition, the ability to determine the anaerobic power, aerobic–anaerobic transition (Trans) (e.g. ventilatory threshold; VT) and the maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max) all within a single incremental treadmill test (IT) was investigated. Fifteen physically fit men [25.9 (5.5) years; 77.4 (6.5) kg] performed the following: test 1, IT for IAT; and test 2, LM: 30-s Wingate test followed by 8 min rest and then an IT that was the same as test 1. Blood lactate concentration [lac], glucose concentration [gluc], pH, PO2, PCO2, base excess (BE) and ventilatory variables were measured. At the beginning of the IT for LM, the ventilation, PO2 and V̇O2 were higher and the pH, BE and PCO2 were lower in relation to IAT (P<0.05), while no differences were observed after reaching LM intensity during IT. Moreover, the Trans could be identified by [lac] (IAT, LM), minute ventilation [V̇ E; VT identified during IAT protocol (VT–IAT) and VT identified during LM protocol (VT–LM)], and [gluc] (IGT, GM) during the IT for IAT and LM. The velocities (kilometers per hour) corresponding to IAT (12.6±1.6), VT–IAT (12.5±1.7), IGT (12.6±1.6), LM (12.5±1.5), VT–LM (12.3±1.5), and GM (12.6±1.9) were not different from each other and the LM and IAT protocols resulted in the similar V̇O2max. We concluded that: (1) after reaching the LM the metabolic responses during IT are similar to IAT; (2) performing a Wingate test prior to an IT does not interfere with the Trans and V̇O2max attainment; (3) and the IGT and GM can predict the Trans.

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Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Proc 97/04753–9) for the financial support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Catholic University of Brasília, Águas Clams-DF, QS 07 Lote 1, Bloco G, sala 119, 72022-900, Brazil

    Herbert Gustavo Simões

  2. Federal University of São Carlos, UFSCar, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Vilmar Baldissera

  3. Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla., USA

    Michael R. Kushnick, Akiko Nakamura, Christos S. Katsanos & Robert J. Moffatt

  4. Department of Physiology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Carmen S. G. Campbell

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  1. Herbert Gustavo Simões
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  2. Carmen S. G. Campbell
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  4. Akiko Nakamura
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  5. Christos S. Katsanos
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  7. Robert J. Moffatt
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Correspondence to Herbert Gustavo Simões.

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Simões, H.G., Campbell, C.S.G., Kushnick, M.R. et al. Blood glucose threshold and the metabolic responses to incremental exercise tests with and without prior lactic acidosis induction. Eur J Appl Physiol 89, 603–611 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0851-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0851-1

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