Skeletal muscle mitochondrial correlates of critical power and W' in healthy active individuals

The asymptote (critical power; CP) and curvature constant (W') of the hyperbolic power–duration relationship can predict performance within the severe-intensity exercise domain. However, the extent to which these parameters relate to skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and respiratory function is not known. Fifteen males (peak O2 uptake, 52.2 ± 8.7 mL kg⁻¹ min⁻¹; peak work rate, 366 ± 40 W; and gas exchange threshold, 162 ± 41 W) performed three to five constant-load tests to task failure for the determination of CP (246 ± 44 W) and W' (18.6 ± 4.1 kJ). Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis to determine citrate synthase (CS) activity, as a marker of mitochondrial content, and the ADP-stimulated respiration (_P) and maximal electron transfer (_E) through mitochondrial complexes (C) I–IV. The CP was positively correlated with CS activity (absolute CP, r = 0.881, P < 0.001; relative CP, r = 0.751, P = 0.001). The W' was not correlated with CS activity (P > 0.05). Relative CP was positively correlated with mass-corrected CI + II_E (r = 0.659, P = 0.038), with absolute CP being inversely correlated with CS activity-corrected CIV_E (r = −0.701, P = 0.024). Relative W' was positively correlated with CS activity-corrected CI + II_P (r = 0.713, P = 0.021) and the phosphorylation control ratio (r = 0.661, P = 0.038). There were no further correlations between CP or W' and mitochondrial respiratory variables. These findings support the assertion that skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity is positively associated with CP and that this relationship is strongly determined by mitochondrial content.