Body Composition, Maximum Oxygen Uptake, Maximum Oxygen Debt and Blood Properties in Elite Female Athletes in Nagasaki Prefecture

A study was performed to evaluate the physiological functions of elite female athletes (long distance runners, swimmers, canoeists, basketball players and volleyball players) in Nagasaki Prefecture. 115 female athletes were evaluated for body composition (underwater weighing method, %Fat, LBM, LBM/Ht), skin fold thickness, cardiorespiratory function (V_O2 max, O_2 debt max) and blood properties, all parameters being measured in 1986, 1987 and 1988. These measurements were compared with those of top female athletes of Japan and the rest of the world. The following means were recorded. %Fat:15.3%(long distance), 17.8%(basketball-(M)), 21.5%(basketball(J), senior H.S), 17.2%(volleyball,(Ky)), 21.6%(volleyball,(Ka)) V_O2 max(ml/kg・min): 57.3ml(long distance), 51.1ml(basketball,(M)), 46.4ml(basketball( J), 44.8ml(volleyball,(Ky)), 43.8ml(volleyball(Ka) O_2 debt max(ml/kg): 101.7ml(sprint), 95.9ml(long distance), 101.2ml(swimming), 92.5 ml(basketball(M)), 87.2ml(basketball(J)), 91.6ml(volleyball(Ky)), 71.2ml(volleyball (Ka)) The coefficient of correlation between V_02 max and hemoglobin, erythrocyte count, serum iron (Fe) or %Fat was respectively significant