Erythrocyte, plasma, and blood volume of healthy young men.

Insufficient data are readily available concerning the vascular fluid volumes of healthy young men. The primary purpose of this study was to develop a normative database for the erythrocyte volume, plasma volume, and blood volume of healthy young men. The secondary purposes were to relate these vascular fluid volumes to the person's body size and physical fitness level and to develop equations that enable their prediction. Fifty-one male soldiers with a mean age of 22 (range 18-35) yr and with a mean maximal aerobic power of 53 (range 42-65) ml O2.kg-1.min-1 had their lean body mass and vascular fluid volumes measured. Erythrocyte volume was measured by 51Cr, and plasma volume was measured by 125I. The findings concerning the erythrocyte volume, plasma volume, and blood volume of these young men are summarized as follows: 1) these vascular fluid volumes are accurately predicted from several indices of body size; 2) lean body mass is the anthropometric index that is most closely correlated to these vascular fluid volumes; 3) the erythrocyte volumes for a given body surface area are lower, particularly for large individuals, than values previously reported in surveys of undefined populations; 4) aerobic fitness is generally not related to vascular volumes; and 5) F-cell ratio is not related to aerobic fitness.