Twenty active male volunteers were studied to compare maximum oxygen consumption (˙V02 max) to the oxidative capacity of a muscle homogenate (˙Q02) and to determine how fiber type relates to these measures of aerobic power. Maximum oxygen consumption was determined by bicycle ergometry. Correlations of 0.81 and 0.75 were found between ˙V02 max and ˙Q02and ˙V02 max and %ST, respectively (p<.01). A significant relationship (r=0.74) was also found between ˙Q02 and %ST. Multiple correlation analysis (R=0.85) indicated that 72% (R2=0.72) of the variance in ˙V02 max could be accounted for by the combined effect of ˙Q02 and fiber type. These data therefore indicate that Q02 and fiber type play a large role in determining maximum aerobic power but these factors cannot completely account for the total variance in ˙V02max.
