Sassi A¹, Impellizzeri FM¹, Rampinini E¹

1, Human Performance Lab, Sport Service MAPEI srl, Castellanza (VA), Italy

The aim of this study was to verify if, according different theories, above the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS), lactate elimination cannot be further significantly increased to such an extend to overcome the formation rate. Six male cyclists of recreational level (VO_2max 61 ± 11 ml/kg/min; weight 69 ± 1 kg; height 174 ± 6 cm; age 36 ± 6 yrs) were involved in the study. MLSS was defined as the maximal intensity at which blood lactate does not increase more than 1 mmol/l from min 10 to min 30 of a steady state exercise. In order to find, by trial and errors, an individual workload slightly higher than MLSS (HMLSS), in separate occasions (every 3-4 days), the subjects were submitted to steady state workouts on a SRM ergometer (SRM, Welldorf, Germany). In the first 5 min of a following workout, 50 W were overimposed to the individual HMLSS (50HMLSS), in order to cause an early lactate accumulation over MLSS workout corresponding value; then, from min 5 to min 30, power output was reduced to the individual HMLSS: a relative lactate decrease after the reduction of the power output to HMLSS should be inconsistent with the assumptions that over MLSS, lactate utilization cannot be further significantly increased. To compare blood lactate values of the two trials Student t-test for paired data was used. Results show that the individual HMLSS lactate increase from min 10 to min 30 was 1,28+0,20 mmol/l (range: 1,06 – 1,53 mmol/l), supporting the overcoming of the MLSS. In 50HMLSS exercise, at min 5 blood lactate was higher than HMLSS at min 5 (7,08+1,87 mmol/l vs. 3,53+1,10 mmol/l; p<0,002). From min 8 of exercise, a lactate decrease takes place (with the characteristic exponential shape of lactate disappearance), resulting in a trend towards difference against HMLSS at min 15 (5,24+1,75 mmol/l vs. 4,17+1,24 mmol/l; p=0.056), and reaching the same HMLSS average value at min 25 (5,13+1,60 mmol/l vs. 4,88+1,31 mmol/l). Results of this study show that even at metabolic intensities slightly above MLSS, lactate removal can be increased to an extend enough to overcome lactate production; that is the case in presence of lactate levels previously increased above the corresponding MLSS individual values. As a consequence, MLSS does not correspond to an absolute ceiling or maximal rate of lactate elimination: these generally accepted limitations must be intended only related to lactate concentrations typical of MLSS conditions in different body compartments.

8th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS).

Salzburg, Austria, July 9 – 12, 2003

Book of Abstract ECSS Salzburg, 08-0334.