RED CELL, PLASMA AND BLOOD VOLUME IN HEALTHY MEN MEASURED BY RADIOCHROMIUM (Cr51) CELL TAGGING AND HEMATOCRIT: INFLUENCE OF AGE, SOMATOTYPE AND HABITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON THE VARIANCE AFTER REGRESSION OF VOLUMES TO HEIGHT AND WEIGHT COMBINED*

Abstract

A group of 201 men were screened for health and classified as to age, habits of physical activity and somatotype. The red cell volumes (Vrbc) of these subjects were measured with Cr51 tagged cells; plasma (Vpl) and whole blood volumes were derived indirectly from venous hemato-crits. Regression equations were derived, expressing the relations of the volumes to body weight and height and to combinations of these measures. From these data a chart was devised from which the expected Vrbc and Vpl for a man of given height and weight can be found conveniently. In the sample of population examined, age, elements of somatotype and habits of physical activity were found to influence the variance of the data only slightly, after effects of height and weight had been accounted for.