Purpose: To investigate the associations of peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) and [Formula: see text] at ventilatory threshold ([Formula: see text] at VT) with arterial stiffness in adolescents.
Methods: The participants were 55 adolescents (36 girls, 19 boys) aged 16-19 years. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIx%) were measured by non-invasive oscillometric device from right brachial artery level. [Formula: see text] was directly measured during a maximal ramp test on a cycle ergometer. [Formula: see text] at VT was determined using the equivalents for ventilation ([Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]). [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at VT were normalised for body mass (BM) and lean mass (LM). Data were analysed using linear regression analyses and analysis of covariance adjusted for age and sex.
Results: [Formula: see text] normalised for BM (β = - 0.445, 95% CI - 0.783 to - 0.107) and [Formula: see text] normalised for LM (β = - 0.386, 95% CI - 0.667 to - 0.106) were inversely associated with PWVao. A higher [Formula: see text] at VT normalised for BM (β = - 0.366, 95% CI - 0.646 to - 0.087) and LM (β = - 0.321, 95% CI - 0.578 to - 0.064) was associated with lower PWVao. Adolescents in the lowest third of [Formula: see text] by LM (6.6 vs. 6.1 m/s, Cohen's d = 0.33) and [Formula: see text] at VT by LM (6.6 vs. 6.0 m/s, Cohen's d = 0.33) had a higher PWVao than those in the highest third of [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] at VT by LM.
Conclusions: Higher [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at VT by BM and LM were related to lower arterial stiffness in adolescents. Normalising [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at VT for LM would provide the most appropriate measure of cardiorespiratory fitness in relation to arterial stiffness.
Keywords: Adolescent; Arteriosclerosis; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Physical fitness; Vascular stiffness.