Dietary Nitrate and Physical Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Jones ◽  
Christopher Thompson ◽  
Lee J. Wylie ◽  
Anni Vanhatalo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Exercise Performance ◽  
Muscle Power ◽  
Contractile Function ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Dietary Nitrate ◽  
Green Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Nitrate Supplementation ◽  
Nitrate And Nitrite

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a plethora of important roles in the human body. Insufficient production of NO (for example, during older age and in various disease conditions) can adversely impact health and physical performance. In addition to its endogenous production through the oxidation of l-arginine, NO can be formed nonenzymatically via the reduction of nitrate and nitrite, and the storage of these anions can be augmented by the consumption of nitrate-rich foodstuffs such as green leafy vegetables. Recent studies indicate that dietary nitrate supplementation, administered most commonly in the form of beetroot juice, can ( a) improve muscle efficiency by reducing the O2 cost of submaximal exercise and thereby improve endurance exercise performance and ( b) enhance skeletal muscle contractile function and thereby improve muscle power and sprint exercise performance. This review describes the physiological mechanisms potentially responsible for these effects, outlines the circumstances in which ergogenic effects are most likely to be evident, and discusses the effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on physical performance in a range of human populations.

Influence of dietary nitrate on the physiological determinants of exercise performance: a critical review

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1019-1028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew M. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Performance ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Beetroot Juice ◽  
Physiological Mechanisms ◽  
Dietary Nitrate ◽  
Nitrate Supplementation ◽  
Sport And Exercise ◽  
Nitrate Dose

Dietary nitrate supplementation, usually in the form of beetroot juice, has been heralded as a possible new ergogenic aid for sport and exercise performance. Early studies in recreationally active participants indicated that nitrate ingestion significantly reduces the O2 cost of submaximal exercise and improves performance during high-intensity endurance exercise. Subsequent studies have begun to address the physiological mechanisms underpinning these observations and to investigate the human populations in whom, and the exercise conditions (high- vs. low-intensity, long- vs. short-duration, continuous vs. intermittent, normoxic vs. hypoxic) under which, nitrate supplementation may be beneficial. Moreover, the optimal nitrate loading regimen in terms of nitrate dose and duration of supplementation has been explored. Depending on these factors, nitrate supplementation has been shown to exert physiological effects that could be conducive to exercise performance enhancement, at least in recreationally active or sub-élite athletes. This article provides a “state-of-the-art” review of the literature pertinent to the evaluation of the efficacy of nitrate supplementation in altering the physiological determinants of sport and exercise performance.

The recalcitrance of oxalate, nitrate and nitrites during the controlled lactic fermentation of commonly consumed green leafy vegetables

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Jagannath ◽  
Manoranjan Kumar ◽  
P S Raju
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Spontaneous Fermentation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lactic Fermentation ◽  
Green Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Nitrate And Nitrite

Purpose – Green leafy vegetables (GLVs) are important components of a balanced diet especially in developing countries where the major requirements of micronutrients are met. However, GLVs also contain significant amounts of oxalate, nitrate and nitrites, whose role in the human diet is constantly changing. The current study explored the behavior of nitrate, nitrites and oxalate in lactic-fermented GLVs with an intention to develop functional foods based on them. Design/methodology/approach – Selected strains of beneficial lactic acid bacteria were used for the controlled fermentation of GLV, while an identical portion was subjected to spontaneous fermentation. The nitrate and nitrites were monitored spectrophotometrically, while oxalate contents were quantified by both titrimetric and by high-performance liquid chromatography throughout the duration of fermentation. Findings – More than 90 per cent of individual constituents studied remained intact in the GLVs paste after the six-day controlled fermentation period. However, there was significant difference between the controlled and spontaneously fermented samples in terms of oxalate, nitrate and nitrite contents. Originality/value – Controlled lactic fermentation although superior in all other aspects may not be able to lower the anti-nutrients present. The advantages of spontaneous fermentation vis-à-vis controlled fermentation are discussed. The work will bring out the importance of the beneficial effects of GLVs and the effect of lactic fermentation.

Dietary nitrate supplementation improves team sport-specific intense intermittent exercise performance

2013 ◽  
Vol 113 (7) ◽  
pp. 1673-1684 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee J. Wylie ◽  
Magni Mohr ◽  
Peter Krustrup ◽  
Sarah R. Jackman ◽  
Georgios Ermιdis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Performance ◽  
Intermittent Exercise ◽  
Team Sport ◽  
Dietary Nitrate ◽  
Nitrate Supplementation

No Effect of Acute and 6-Day Nitrate Supplementation on VO2 and Time-Trial Performance in Highly Trained Cyclists

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean M. Nyakayiru ◽  
Kristin L. Jonvik ◽  
Philippe J.M. Pinckaers ◽  
Joan Senden ◽  
Luc J.C. van Loon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Nitrate ◽  
Time Trial ◽  
Submaximal Exercise ◽  
Dietary Nitrate ◽  
Time Trial Performance ◽  
Nitrate Supplementation ◽  
Plasma Nitrate ◽  
Nitrate And Nitrite ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Trial Performance

While the majority of studies reporting ergogenic effects of dietary nitrate have used a multiday supplementation protocol, some studies suggest that a single dose of dietary nitrate before exercise can also improve subsequent performance. We aimed to compare the impact of acute and 6-day sodium nitrate supplementation on oxygen uptake (V̇O2) and time-trial performance in trained cyclists. Using a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design, 17 male cyclists (25 ± 4 y, V̇O2peak 65 ± 4 ml·kg-1·min-1, Wmax 411 ± 35 W) were subjected to 3 different trials; 5 days placebo and 1 day sodium nitrate supplementation (1-DAY); 6 days sodium nitrate supplementation (6-DAY); 6 days placebo supplementation (PLA). Nitrate was administered as 1097 mg sodium nitrate providing 800 mg (~12.9 mmol) nitrate per day. Three hours after ingestion of the last supplemental bolus, indirect calorimetry was performed while subjects performed 30 min of exercise at 45% Wmax and 30 min at 65% Wmax on a cycle ergometer, followed by a 10 km time-trial. Immediately before exercise, plasma [nitrate] and [nitrite] increased to a similar extent during the 6-DAY and 1-DAY trial, but not with PLA (plasma nitrite: 501 ± 205, 553 ± 278, and 239 ± 74 nM, respectively; p < .001). No differences were observed between interventions in V̇O2 during submaximal exercise, or in time to complete the time-trial (6-DAY: 1004 ± 61, 1-DAY: 1022 ± 72, PLA: 1017 ± 71 s; p = .28). We conclude that both acute and 6-days of sodium nitrate supplementation do not alter V̇O2 during submaximal exercise or improve time-trial performance in highly trained cyclists, despite increasing plasma [nitrate] and [nitrite].

scholarly journals Influence of dietary nitrate supplementation on physiological and muscle metabolic adaptations to sprint interval training

2017 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 642-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Thompson ◽  
Lee J. Wylie ◽  
Jamie R. Blackwell ◽  
Jonathan Fulford ◽  
Matthew I. Black ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Performance ◽  
Interval Training ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Sprint Interval Training ◽  
Beetroot Juice ◽  
Dietary Nitrate ◽  
Metabolic Adaptations ◽  
Physiological Adaptations ◽  
Severe Intensity ◽  
Nitrate Supplementation

We hypothesized that 4 wk of dietary nitrate supplementation would enhance exercise performance and muscle metabolic adaptations to sprint interval training (SIT). Thirty-six recreationally active subjects, matched on key variables at baseline, completed a series of exercise tests before and following a 4-wk period in which they were allocated to one of the following groups: 1) SIT and [Formula: see text]-depleted beetroot juice as a placebo (SIT+PL); 2) SIT and [Formula: see text]-rich beetroot juice (~13 mmol [Formula: see text]/day; SIT+BR); or 3) no training and [Formula: see text]-rich beetroot juice (NT+BR). During moderate-intensity exercise, pulmonary oxygen uptake was reduced by 4% following 4 wk of SIT+BR and NT+BR ( P < 0.05) but not SIT+PL. The peak work rate attained during incremental exercise increased more in SIT+BR than in SIT+PL ( P < 0.05) or NT+BR ( P < 0.001). The reduction in muscle and blood [lactate] and the increase in muscle pH from preintervention to postintervention were greater at 3 min of severe-intensity exercise in SIT+BR compared with SIT+PL and NT+BR ( P < 0.05). However, the change in severe-intensity exercise performance was not different between SIT+BR and SIT+PL ( P > 0.05). The relative proportion of type IIx muscle fibers in the vastus lateralis muscle was reduced in SIT+BR only ( P < 0.05). These findings suggest that BR supplementation may enhance some aspects of the physiological adaptations to SIT. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We investigated the influence of nitrate-rich and nitrate-depleted beetroot juice on the muscle metabolic and physiological adaptations to 4 wk of sprint interval training. Compared with placebo, dietary nitrate supplementation reduced the O2 cost of submaximal exercise, resulted in greater improvement in incremental (but not severe-intensity) exercise performance, and augmented some muscle metabolic adaptations to training. Nitrate supplementation may facilitate some of the physiological responses to sprint interval training.

scholarly journals Dietary nitrate and blood pressure: evolution of a new nutrient?

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Ashworth ◽  
Raul Bescos
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Dietary Nitrate ◽  
Green Leafy Vegetables ◽  
The Uk

AbstractDietary nitrate is mainly obtained from vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables and beetroot. As a result of early research, dietary nitrate is currently viewed as a contaminant linked to increased risks of stomach cancer and methaemoglobinaemia. Consequently, nitrate levels are restricted in certain vegetables and in water supplies to ensure exposure levels remain below an acceptable daily intake of 3·7 mg/kg per d. The average nitrate intake in the UK is approximately 70 mg/d, although some population groups, such as vegetarians, may consume three times that amount. However, recent studies in the last decade suggest that dietary nitrate can significantly reduce systolic blood pressure via the nitrate–nitrite–NO pathway. A small, downward shift in systolic blood pressure across the population could significantly reduce the incidence of hypertension and mortality from CVD such as stroke. Interestingly, vegetarians tend to have lower levels of blood pressure than omnivores and epidemiological studies suggest that vegetarians have lower risks of CVD. Recent evidence is mainly focused on the acute effects of dietary nitrate supplementation and there is a lack of data looking at the chronic effects of high nitrate consumption in humans. Nevertheless, due to potential health benefits, some authors are recommending that nitrate should be considered as a nutrient necessary for health, rather than as a contaminant which needs to be restricted. This review will discuss the emerging role of dietary nitrate in the control of blood pressure and whether there is sufficient evidence to state that nitrate is a ‘new’ nutrient.

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