The relationship between ventilatory and lactate thresholds in boys and men.

The relationship between ventilatory (VT) and lactate threshold (LT) in 8 boys (11.1 +/- 0.7 yrs) and 9 men (24.0 +/- 3.3 yrs) with similar peak VO(2) levels was assessed. Percent peak VO(2) at VT and LT were higher (P < 0.05) in the boys (67.9 +/- 2.6% and 63.9 +/- 5.0%, respectively) compared with men (59.0 +/- 3.2% and 54.8 +/- 2.7%, respectively). VO(2) (mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) at VT was higher (P < 0.05) and at LT tended to be higher in boys. Correlations between VT and LT were r = 0.95 for VO(2) (mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) and r = 0.82 for % peak VO(2) (P < 0.05) in boys and r = 0.87 (P < 0.05) and r = 0.60 (P > 0.05), respectively, in men. The mechanisms mediating VT and LT in children are not established fully and warrant further study.