GEDAE-LaB: A Free Software to Calculate the Energy System Contributions during Exercise

Purpose The aim of the current study is to describe the functionality of free software developed for energy system contributions and energy expenditure calculation during exercise, namely GEDAE-LaB. Methods Eleven participants performed the following tests: 1) a maximal cycling incremental test to measure the ventilatory threshold and maximal oxygen uptake ((V)over dot O(2)max); 2) a cycling workload constant test at moderate domain (90% ventilatory threshold); 3) a cycling workload constant test at severe domain (110% (V)over dot O(2)max). Oxygen uptake and plasma lactate were measured during the tests. The contributions of the aerobic (A(MET)), anaerobic lactic (LA(MET)), and anaerobic alactic (AL(MET)) systems were calculated based on the oxygen uptake during exercise, the oxygen energy equivalents provided by lactate accumulation, and the fast component of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, respectively. In order to assess the intra-investigator variation, four different investigators performed the analyses independently using GEDAE-LaB. A direct comparison with commercial software was also provided. Results All subjects completed 10 min of exercise at moderate domain, while the time to exhaustion at severe domain was 144 +/- 65 s. The A(MET), LA(MET), and AL(MET) contributions during moderate domain were about 93, 2, and 5%, respectively. The A(MET), LA(MET), and AL(MET) contributions during severe domain were about 66, 21, and 13%, respectively. No statistical differences were found between the energy system contributions and energy expenditure obtained by GEDAE-LaB and commercial software for both moderate and severe domains (P > 0.05). The ICC revealed that these estimates were highly reliable among the four investigators for both moderate and severe domains (all ICC >= 0.94). Conclusion These findings suggest that GEDAE-LaB is a free software easily comprehended by users minimally familiarized with adopted procedures for calculations of energetic profile using oxygen uptake and lactate accumulation during exercise. By providing availability of the software and its source code we hope to facilitate future related research.