Sodium Nitrate Supplementation Does Not Enhance Performance of Endurance Athletes

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Bescos, Raul, Ferrer-Roca, Ventura, Galilea, Pedro A, Roig, Andreu, Drobnic, Franchek, Sureda, Antoni, Martorell, Miquel, Cordova, Alfredo, Tur, Josep and Pons, Antoni (2012) Sodium Nitrate Supplementation Does Not Enhance Performance of Endurance Athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 44 (12). pp. 2400-2409. ISSN 0195-9131 (print) 1530-0315 (online)

Abstract

Purpose: Supplementation with inorganic nitrate has been suggested to be an ergogenic aid for athletes as nitric oxide donor. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ingestion of inorganic sodium nitrate benefits well-trained athletes performing a 40-min exercise test in laboratory conditions. In addition, we investigated the effect of this supplement on plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and in nitrated proteins. Methods: Thirteen trained athletes participated in this randomized, double-blind, crossover study. They performed a 40-min cycle ergometer distance-trial test after two 3-d periods of dietary supplementation with sodium nitrate (10 mg·kg−1 of body mass) or placebo. Results: Concentration of plasma nitrate (256 ± 35 μM) and nitrite (334 ± 86 nM) increased significantly (P < 0.05) after nitrate supplementation compared with placebo (nitrate: 44 ± 11 μM; nitrite: 187 ± 43 nM). In terms of exercise performance, there were no differences in either the mean distance (nitrate: 26.4 ± 1.1 km; placebo: 26.3 ± 1.2 km; P = 0.61) or mean power output (nitrate: 258 ± 28 W; placebo: 257 ± 28 W; P = 0.89) between treatments. Plasma ET-1 increased significantly (P < 0.05) just after exercise in nitrate (4.0 ± 0.8 pg·mL−1) and placebo (2.4 ± 0.4 pg·mL−1) conditions. This increase was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in the nitrate group. Levels of nitrated proteins did not differ between treatments (nitrate: preexercise, 91% ± 23%; postexercise, 81% ± 23%; placebo: preexercise, 95% ± 20%; postexercise, 99% ± 19%). Conclusion: Sodium nitrate supplementation did not improve a 40-min distance-trial performance in endurance athletes. In addition, concentration of plasma ET-1 increased significantly after exercise after supplementation with sodium nitrate.

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Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/24185
DOI 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182687e5c
Official URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182687e5c
Subjects Historical > FOR Classification > 1106 Human Movement and Sports Science
Current > Division/Research > College of Sports and Exercise Science
Keywords nitric oxide, nitrate, nitrite, exercise performance, endothelin-1
Citations in Scopus 83 - View on Scopus
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