Role of central circulatory factors in the fat-free mass-maximal aerobic capacity relation across age

Fat-free mass (FFM) (primarily skeletal muscle mass) is related to maximal aerobic capacity among healthy humans across the adult age range. The basis for this physiological association is assumed to be a direct relation between skeletal muscle mass and its capacity to consume oxygen. We tested the alternative hypothesis that FFM exerts its influence on maximal aerobic capacity in part via an association with central circulatory function. To do so, we analyzed data from 103 healthy sedentary adults aged 18-75 yr. FFM was strongly and positively related to maximal oxygen consumption (r = 0.80, P < 0. 001). FFM was also strongly and positively related to supine resting levels of blood volume (r = 0.79, P < 0.001) and stroke volume (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). Statistically controlling for the collective influences of blood volume and stroke volume abolished the tight relation between FFM and maximal oxygen consumption (r = 0.12, not significant). These results indicate that 1) FFM may be an important physiological determinant of blood volume and stroke volume among healthy sedentary adult humans of varying age; and 2) this relation between FFM and central circulatory function appears to represent the primary physiological basis for the strong association between FFM and maximal aerobic capacity in this population. Our findings suggest that sarcopenia (loss of skeletal muscle mass with aging) may contribute to the age-related decline in maximal aerobic capacity primarily via reductions in blood volume and stroke volume rather than a direct effect on the oxygen-consuming potential of muscle per se.