Male athletes tend to outperform female athletes in several endurance sports. Maximum cardiac output can be estimated by maximal oxygen consumption ($\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$), and it has been established that men present $\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$ values about 20% higher than women. Although sex differences in $\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$ have already been well studied, few studies have assessed sex differences with regard to muscle oxidative capacity. The aim of this study was to compare aerobic muscle quality, accessed by $\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$ and adjusted by lower limb lean mass, between male and female amateur triathletes. The study also aimed to compare sex differences according to $\dot{V}{O}_2$ submaximal values assessed at ventilatory thresholds. A total of 57 participants (23 women and 34 men), who had been training for Olympic-distance triathlon races, underwent body composition evaluation by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and performed a cardiorespiratory maximal test on a treadmill. Male athletes had significantly higher $\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$, both absolutely and when adjusted to body mass. Conversely, when $\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$ was adjusted for lean mass, there was no significant difference between sexes. The same was observed at submaximal exercise intensities. In conclusion, differences in $\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$ adjusted to body mass but not lean mass may explain, at least in part, sex differences in performance in triathlons, marathons, cycling, and other endurance sports.

The purpose of this study was to verify the physiological and anthropometric determinants of triathlon performance in female and male athletes. This study included 40 triathletes (20 male and 20 female). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to assess body composition, and an incremental cardiopulmonary test was used to assess physiological variables. A questionnaire about physical training habits was also completed by the athletes. Athletes competed in the Olympic-distance triathlon race. For the female group, the total race time can be predicted by V̇O₂max (β = −131, t = −6.61, p < 0.001), lean mass (β = −61.4, t = −2.66, p = 0.018), and triathlon experience (β = −886.1, t = −3.01, p = 0.009) (r² = 0.825, p < 0.05). For the male group, the total race time can be predicted by maximal aerobic speed (β = −294.1, t = −2.89, p = 0.010) and percentage of body fat (β = 53.6, t = 2.20, p = 0.042) (r² = 0.578, p < 0.05). The variables that can predict the performance of men are not the same as those that can predict the triathlon performance of women. These data can help athletes and coaches develop performance-enhancing strategies.

Performance in endurance sports decreases with aging, which has been primarily attributed to cardiovascular and musculoskeletal aging; however, there is still no clear information on the factors that are most affected by aging. The aim of this study was to compare two groups of runners (< 50 and > 50 years of age) according to their absolute, weight-adjusted maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O₂max), lower limb lean mass-adjusted V̇O₂max, ventilatory threshold, and respiratory compensation point (RCP). A total of 78 male recreational long-distance runners were divided into Group 1 (38.12 ± 6.87 years) and Group 2 (57.55 ± 6.14 years). Participants were evaluated for body composition, V̇O₂max, VT, and RCP. Group 1 showed higher absolute and body mass-adjusted V̇O₂max (4.60 ± 0.57 l·min⁻¹ and 61.95 ± 8.25 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, respectively) than Group 2 (3.77 ± 0.56 l·min⁻¹ and 51.50 ± 10.22 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, respectively), indicating a significant difference (p < 0.001, d = − 1.46 and p < 0.001, d = − 1.16). Correspondingly, Group 1 showed a significantly higher lower limb lean mass–adjusted V̇O₂max (251.72 ± 29.60 ml·kgLM⁻¹·min⁻¹) than Group 2 (226.36 ± 43.94 ml·kgLM⁻¹·min⁻¹) (p = 0.008, d = − 0.71). VT (%V̇O₂max) (p = 0.19, d = 0.19) and RCP (%V̇O₂max) (p = 0.24, d = 0.22) did not differ between the groups. These findings suggest that both variables that are limited by central or peripheral conditions are negatively affected by aging, but the magnitude of the effect is higher in variables limited by central conditions. These results contribute to our understanding of how aging affects master runners.

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the necessary social isolation and distancing measures - that were adopted to prevent spreading the virus, including the suspension of university classes - negatively impacted the mental health of young adults. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether returning to online classes, even not presential, during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, affected the mental health of university students. Methods: Forty students (10 men and 30 women) (age, 22.3±3.8 years; body mass, 62.5±17.8 kg; height, 165.6±8.7cm) from undergraduate health courses participated in the study. The students answered a self-administered questionnaire designed to gather personal and quarantine information as well as information about the frequency of depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms. The questionnaire was answered before and after the return to online classes. Results: There was a significantly lower frequency of depression symptoms after the return to online classes (Z = −2.27; p = 0.02). However, there was no difference in anxiety symptoms before and after returning to online classes (Z = −0.51; p = 0.61). Conclusions: Return to online classes positively impacted the mental health (decrease of frequency of depression symptoms) of university students. Future studies are needed to observe whether the changes observed after returning to school are maintained over time.

Maximal oxygen uptake ($\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$), ventilatory threshold (VT) and respiratory compensation point (RCP) can be used to monitor the training intensity and the race strategy, and the elucidation of the specificities existing between the sexes can be interesting for coaches and athletes. The aim of the study was to compare ventilatory threshold (VT), respiratory compensation point (RCP), and the percentage of the maximal aerobic speed (MAS) that can be maintained in a triathlon race between sexes. Forty-one triathletes (22 men and 19 women), 42.1 ± 8.4 (26 to 60) years old, that raced the same Olympic triathlon underwent a cardiorespiratory maximal treadmill test to assess their VT, RPC, and MAS, and race speed. The maximal oxygen uptake ($\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$) (54.0 ± 5.1 vs. 49.8 ± 7.7 mL/kg/min, p < 0.001) and MAS (17 ± 2 vs. 15 ± 2 km/h, p = 0.001) were significantly higher in male than in female athletes. Conversely, there were no sex differences according to the percentage of $\dot{V}{O}_{2}max$ reached at VT (74.4 ± 4.9 vs. 76.1 ± 5.4%, p = 0.298) and RCP (89.9 ± 3.6 vs. 90.6 ± 4.0%, p = 0.560). The mean speed during the race did not differ between sexes (12.1 ± 1.7 km/h and 11.7 ± 1.8 km/h, p = 0.506, respectively). Finally, men performed the running split at a lower percentage of speed at RCP than women (84.0 ± 8.7 vs. 91.2 ± 7.0%, respectively, p = 0.005). Therefore, male and female athletes accomplished the running split in an Olympic triathlon distance at distinct relative intensities, as female athletes run at a higher RCP percentage.

Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia is a muscular disease characterized by loss of muscular strength and function, affecting mainly women, and associated with increased mortality risk. The aim of this study was to compare active women with inactive women of different age groups regarding muscle mass, strength, and muscle quality. Methods: This study included 147 women (85 runners and 62 inactive), divided into <50 and ≥50 years old. Participants were evaluated for knee flexor and extensor peak torque (PT), body composition, and training habits. Results: For knee extensor muscles, there was an age group effect (F(2.146) = 40.5; p < 0.001) on absolute PT (Nm); an age group effect (F(2.146) = 44.1; p < 0.001) and a physical activity group effect (F(2.146) = 113.0; p < 0.001) on PT adjusted by body mass (Nm/kg); and an age group effect (F(2.146) = 36.9; p < 0.001) and a physical activity group effect (F(2.146) = 6.1; p = 0.014) on PT adjusted by lean mass (Nm/kgLM). There was no interaction effect. Conclusion: In both age groups, active women had greater strength and higher muscle quality than inactive women, but the difference in strength, muscle mass, and muscle quality between younger and older women were the same among runners and inactive women.