Serum Testosterone Is Not Related to Peak V̇O2 and Submaximal Blood Lactate Responses in 12- to 16-Year-Old Males.

This study was designed to investigate the influence of sexual maturity on peak VO₂ and blood lactate responses to exercise using serum testosterone levels as an objective measure of maturity. Testosterone levels were determined in venous blood samples obtained from 12- to 16-year-old males (n =50). Peak VO₂ and percentage of peak VO₂ at blood lactate levels of 2.5 and 4.0 mmol·L^-1 were determined during incremental treadmill running. Standard multiple regression revealed that body mass, age, and height explained 74% of the variance in peak VO₂ scores. The addition of serum testosterone to the equation failed to produce a significant increase in the explained variance. Correlation coefficients between testosterone and the lactate variables were not significant (p > .05). These findings do not support the hypothesis that hormonal changes per se during sexual maturation play an important role in the development of peak VO₂ and blood lactate responses to exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]