Weston A R, Mbambo Z, Myburgh K H
Department of Physiology, University of Cape Town Medical School, South Africa.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000 Jun;32(6):1130-4. doi: 10.1097/00005768-200006000-00015.
Anecdotal evidence suggests an advantageous physiological endowment of the African endurance athlete. Higher fractional utilization of VO2max has been suggested but not measured directly, and investigations of running economy have been inconclusive. The aim of the current study was to measure a) running economy and b) fractional utilization of VO2max, in African and Caucasian 10-km runners of similar body mass.
Eight African and eight Caucasian runners had no significant difference in mean race time (32.8 +/- 2.8, 32.0 +/- 2.5 min, respectively), body mass (61.4 +/- 7.0, 64.9 +/- 3.0 kg), age, body fat, or lean thigh volume. Caucasian runners were 6 cm taller (P < 0.05). Subjects completed a progressive treadmill VO2peak test. On a separate day, subjects completed two 6-min workloads (16.1 km x h(-1) and 10-km race pace) separated by 5 min.
Mean VO2peak was 13% lower in the Africans (61.9 +/- 6.9, 69.9 +/- 5.4 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1), P = 0.01). At 16.1 km x h(-1), the Africans were 5% more economical (47.3 +/- 3.2, 49.9 +/- 2.4 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1), P < 0.05). This difference increased to 8% (P < 0.01) when standardized per kg(0.66). At race pace, the Africans utilized a higher %VO2peak (92.2 +/- 3.7, 86.0 +/- 4.8%, P < 0.01) and had higher HR (185 +/- 9, 174 +/- 11 b x min(-1), P < 0.05) and plasma [ammonia] (113.2 +/- 51, 60.3 +/- 16.9 micromol x L(-1), P < 0.05). Despite the higher relative workload, the plasma [lactate] was not different (5.2 +/- 2.0, 4.2 +/- 1.7 mmol x L(-1), NS).
This study indicates greater running economy and higher fractional utilization of VO2peak in African distance runners. Although not elucidating the origin of these differences, the findings may partially explain the success of African runners at the elite level.
轶事证据表明非洲耐力运动员具有有利的生理天赋。有人提出最大摄氧量（VO₂max）的利用率更高，但未直接测量，并且对跑步经济性的研究尚无定论。本研究的目的是测量体重相似的非洲和高加索10公里跑运动员的a）跑步经济性和b）VO₂max的利用率。
8名非洲和8名高加索跑步运动员在平均比赛时间（分别为32.8±2.8、32.0±2.5分钟）、体重（61.4±7.0、64.9±3.0千克）、年龄、体脂或大腿瘦体积方面无显著差异。高加索跑步运动员高6厘米（P<0.05）。受试者完成了递增式跑步机VO₂峰值测试。在另一天，受试者完成了两个6分钟的工作量（16.1公里/小时和10公里比赛配速），中间间隔5分钟。
非洲人的平均VO₂峰值低13%（61.9±6.9、69.9±5.4毫升/千克·分钟，P=0.01）。在16.1公里/小时时，非洲人的经济性高5%（47.3±3.2、49.9±2.4毫升/千克·分钟，P<0.05）。按每千克（0.66）标准化后，这一差异增至8%（P<0.01）。在比赛配速下，非洲人VO₂峰值的利用率更高（92.2±3.7、86.0±4.8%，P<0.01），心率更高（185±9、174±11次/分钟，P<0.05），血浆[氨]更高（113.2±51、60.3±16.9微摩尔/升，P<0.05）。尽管相对工作量更高，但血浆[乳酸]无差异（5.2±2.0、4.2±1.7毫摩尔/升，无显著性差异）。
本研究表明非洲长跑运动员的跑步经济性更好，VO₂峰值的利用率更高。尽管没有阐明这些差异的来源，但这些发现可能部分解释了非洲运动员在精英水平上的成功。
