Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition Is VO2 Max Enough? Why Mitochondrial Function Matters for Longevity | Inigo San Milan | Be Well Moments
Nov 28, 2025
Inigo San Milan, a researcher and performance scientist specializing in mitochondrial function, delves into why VO2max is insufficient for assessing fitness and longevity. He explains that while VO2max reflects cardiorespiratory capacity, it doesn't capture how our cells utilize oxygen. The conversation highlights mitochondrial health's role in organ function and aging and discusses non-invasive methods for measuring it, such as metabolic carts and lactate sampling, which correlate well with more invasive biopsy techniques.
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VO2 Max Is Only Part Of The Picture
- VO2max measures central cardiorespiratory capacity but misses cellular-level energy use.
- Mitochondrial function determines whether cells and organs actually produce ATP efficiently for performance and health.
Mitochondria Link Performance To Longevity
- Mitochondrial health is the next frontier linking metabolism, performance, and longevity.
- As mitochondria age, cellular energy production drops and organ function and longevity decline.
From VO2max To Cellular Testing With Athletes
- Inigo San Millan describes shifting from using VO2max with athletes to focusing on cellular mitochondrial measures.
- He links this shift to both performance needs (ATP production) and broader longevity interest.