Sex-related differences in accumulated O2 deficit incurred by high-intensity rowing exercise during childhood and adolescence

Purpose The aims of the present study were to determine during childhood and adolescence (i) the effect of sex on non-oxidative energy production, quantified by the accumulated oxygen deficit (AOD), and (ii) the influence of AOD on high-intensity performance. Methods Thirty-nine boys and 35 girls aged 10–17 years performed a 60 s all-out test on a rowing ergometer to determine AOD and mean power output (MPO). Multiplicative allometric modelling was used to assess the concurrent effects of lean body mass (LBM) and age on AOD. Results AOD significantly increased with age in both sexes ( p