Is the balance between skeletal muscular metabolic capacity and oxygen supply capacity the same in endurance trained and untrained subjects?

We attempted to test whether the balance between muscular metabolic capacity and oxygen supply capacity in endurance-trained athletes (ET) differs from that in a control group of normal physically active subjects by using exercises with different muscle masses. We compared maximal exercise in nine ET subjects [Maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) 64 ml kg(-1) min(-1) +/- SD 4] and eight controls (VO(2)max 46 +/- 4 ml kg(-1) min(-1)) during one-legged knee extensions (1-KE), two-legged knee extensions (2-KE) and bicycling. Maximal values for power output (P), VO(2)max, concentration of blood lactate ([La(-)]), ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR), and arterial oxygen saturation of haemoglobin (SpO(2)) were registered. P was 43 (2), 89 (3) and 298 (7) W (mean +/- SE); and VO(2)max: 1,387 (80), 2,234 (113) and 4,115 (150) ml min(-1)) for controls in 1-KE, 2-KE and bicycling, respectively. The ET subjects achieved 126, 121 and 126% of the P of controls (p < 0.05) and 127, 124, and 117% of their VO(2)max (p < 0.05). HR and [La(-)] were similar for both groups during all modes of exercise, while VE in ET was 147 and 114% of controls during 1-KE and bicycling, respectively. For mass-specific VO(2)max (VO(2)max divided by the calculated active muscle mass) during the different exercises, ET achieved 148, 141, and 150% of the controls' values, respectively (p < 0.05). During bicycling, both groups achieved 37% of their mass-specific VO(2) during 1-KE. Finally we conclude that ET subjects have the same utilization of the muscular metabolic capacity during whole body exercise as active control subjects.