Table 1.

Reference values of sedentary individuals and elite endurance athletes

	Sedentary		Elite Athlete		References
	Men	Women*	Men	Women*
$\dot{\text{V}}{\mathrm{\text{O}}}_{2\text{max}}$, mL/min/kg	<45	<40	∼70–85	∼60–75	(122, 251–265)
$\dot{\text{V}}{\mathrm{\text{E}}}_{\text{max}}$, L/min	120–140	∼95	165–185	∼125	(261, 263, 266–273)
Stroke volume, mL/beat					(251, 253, 265)
At rest	∼65	∼55	∼110	∼70
Maximum	∼100	∼70	150–200	∼125
Cardiac output, L/min					(251, 253, 265, 274–276)
At rest	∼5–6	∼3.5–4.5	∼5–6	∼3.5–4.5
Maximum	∼20	∼15	∼30–40	∼25
Lactate threshold, % $\dot{\text{V}}{\mathrm{\text{O}}}_{2\text{max}}$	∼60	∼60	75–85	75–85	(80, 122, 264, 277)
Fiber type, % type I	40–50	40–50	>60	>60	(169, 254, 256, 278–284)
Capillary-to-fiber ratio	1.5–2	Similar or slightly lower	2.5–3	insufficient data	(169, 254, 255, 278, 285–288)
Mitochondrial volume density, %	4–5	Similar or slightly lower	7.5–9	insufficient data	(254, 255, 285, 286, 289, 290)

Sedentary men and women are between 20 and 30 yr of age. All values of muscle tissue originate from vastus lateralis biopsies. $\dot{\text{V}}{\mathrm{\text{E}}}_{\text{max}}$, maximal exercise-induced pulmonary ventilation; $\dot{\text{V}}{\mathrm{\text{O}}}_{2\text{max}}$, maximal oxygen uptake. *Less data are available for female athletes and sedentary control subjects.