It is not clear how the parameters of the power-duration relationship [critical power (CP) and W'] are influenced by the performance of prolonged endurance exercise. We used severe-intensity prediction trials (conventional protocol) and the 3-min all-out test (3MT) to measure CP and W' following 2 h of heavy-intensity cycling exercise and took muscle biopsies to investigate possible relationships to changes in muscle glycogen concentration ([glycogen]). Fourteen participants completed a rested 3MT to establish end-test power (Control-EP) and work done above EP (Control-WEP). Subsequently, on separate days, immediately following 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise, participants completed a 3MT to establish Fatigued-EP and Fatigued-WEP and three severe-intensity prediction trials to the limit of tolerance (Tlim) to establish Fatigued-CP and Fatigued-W'. A muscle biopsy was collected immediately before and after one of the 2-h exercise bouts. Fatigued-CP (256 ± 41 W) and Fatigued-EP (256 ± 52 W), and Fatigued-W' (15.3 ± 5.0 kJ) and Fatigued-WEP (14.6 ± 5.3 kJ), were not different (P > 0.05) but were ~11% and ~20% lower than Control-EP (287 ± 46 W) and Control-WEP (18.7 ± 4.7 kJ), respectively (P < 0.05). The change in muscle [glycogen] was not significantly correlated with the changes in either EP (r = 0.19) or WEP (r = 0.07). The power-duration relationship is adversely impacted by prolonged endurance exercise. The 3MT provides valid estimates of CP and W' following 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise, but the changes in these parameters are not primarily determined by changes in muscle [glycogen].

We tested the hypotheses that the parameters of the power-duration relationship, estimated as the end-test power (EP) and work done above EP (WEP) during a 3-min all-out exercise test (3MT), would be reduced progressively after 40 min, 80 min, and 2 h of heavy-intensity cycling and that carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion would attenuate the reduction in EP and WEP. Sixteen participants completed a 3MT without prior exercise (control), immediately after 40 min, 80 min, and 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise while consuming a placebo beverage, and also after 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise while consuming a CHO supplement (60 g/h CHO). There was no difference in EP measured without prior exercise (260 ± 37 W) compared with EP after 40 min (268 ± 39 W) or 80 min (260 ± 40 W) of heavy-intensity exercise; however, after 2 h EP was 9% lower compared with control (236 ± 47 W; P < 0.05). There was no difference in WEP measured without prior exercise (17.9 ± 3.3 kJ) compared with after 40 min of heavy-intensity exercise (16.1 ± 3.3 kJ), but WEP was lower (P < 0.05) than control after 80 min (14.7 ± 2.9 kJ) and 2 h (13.8 ± 2.7 kJ). Compared with placebo, CHO ingestion negated the reduction of EP following 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise (254 ± 49 W) but had no effect on WEP (13.5 ± 3.4 kJ). These results reveal a different time course for the deterioration of EP and WEP during prolonged endurance exercise and indicate that EP is sensitive to CHO availability.NEW & NOTEWORTHY the parameters of the power-duration relationship [critical power (CP) and the curvature constant (W')] have typically been considered to be static. Here we report the time course for reductions in CP and W', as estimated with the 3-min all-out cycle test, during 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise. We also show that carbohydrate ingestion during exercise preserves CP, but not W', without altering muscle glycogen depletion. These results provide new mechanistic and practical insight into the power-duration curve and its relationship to exercise-related fatigue development.

© 2019 This paper presents the first two studies to explore the effect of challenge and threat states on endurance exercise capabilities. In study one, relationships between cardiovascular markers of challenge and threat states, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and exercise tolerance were explored during moderate- and severe-intensity cycling. Cardiovascular reactivity more reflective of a challenge state (i.e. relatively higher cardiac output and/or lower total peripheral resistance reactivity) predicted lower RPE throughout moderate- but not severe-intensity cycling. Building on these findings, study two experimentally manipulated participants into challenge, threat, and neutral groups, and compared 16.1 km time-trial performances, where pacing is self-regulated by RPE. Participants completed familiarisation, control, and experimental visits while physiological (oxygen uptake), perceptual (RPE), and performance-based (time to completion [TTC] and power output [PO]) variables were assessed. When compared to the threat group, the challenge group demonstrated cardiovascular responses more indicative of a challenge state, and delivered faster early-race pacing (PO) at similar RPE. Although there were no significant differences in TTC, results revealed that augmentations in PO for the challenge group were facilitated by tempered perceptions of fatigue. The findings suggest that an individual's pre-exercise psychophysiological state might influence perceived exertion and endurance exercise capabilities.

KEY POINTS: Nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator and a regulator of many physiological processes, is produced in mammals both enzymatically and by reduction of nitrite and nitrate ions. We have previously reported that, in rodents, skeletal muscle serves as a nitrate reservoir, with nitrate levels greatly exceeding those in blood or other internal organs, and with nitrate being reduced to NO during exercise. In the current study, we show that nitrate concentration is substantially greater in skeletal muscle than in blood and is elevated further by dietary nitrate ingestion in human volunteers. We also show that high-intensity exercise results in a reduction in the skeletal muscle nitrate store following supplementation, likely as a consequence of its reduction to nitrite and NO. We also report the presence of sialin, a nitrate transporter, and xanthine oxidoreductase in human skeletal muscle, indicating that muscle has the necessary apparatus for nitrate transport, storage and metabolism. ABSTRACT: Rodent skeletal muscle contains a large store of nitrate that can be augmented by the consumption of dietary nitrate. This muscle nitrate reservoir has been found to be an important source of nitrite and nitric oxide (NO) via its reduction by tissue xanthine oxidoreductase. To explore if this pathway is also active in human skeletal muscle during exercise, and if it is sensitive to local nitrate availability, we assessed exercise-induced changes in muscle nitrate and nitrite concentrations in young healthy humans, under baseline conditions and following dietary nitrate consumption. We found that baseline nitrate and nitrite concentrations were far higher in muscle than in plasma (∼4-fold and ∼29-fold, respectively), and that the consumption of a single bolus of dietary nitrate (12.8 mmol) significantly elevated nitrate concentration in both plasma (∼19-fold) and muscle (∼5-fold). Consistent with these observations, and with previous suggestions of active muscle nitrate transport, we present western blot data to show significant expression of the active nitrate/nitrite transporter sialin in human skeletal muscle. Furthermore, we report an exercise-induced reduction in human muscle nitrate concentration (by ∼39%), but only in the presence of an increased muscle nitrate store. Our results indicate that human skeletal muscle nitrate stores are sensitive to dietary nitrate intake and may contribute to NO generation during exercise. Together, these findings suggest that skeletal muscle plays an important role in the transport, storage and metabolism of nitrate in humans.

This article provides an overview of the current literature relating to the efficacy of dietary nitrate (NO3-) ingestion in altering aspects of cardiovascular and metabolic health and exercise capacity in healthy and diseased individuals. The consumption of NO3--rich vegetables, such as spinach and beetroot, have been variously shown to promote nitric oxide bioavailability, reduce systemic blood pressure, enhance tissue blood flow, modulate muscle O2 utilisation and improve exercise tolerance both in normoxia and in hypoxia, as is commonly observed in a number of disease states. NO3- ingestion may, therefore, act as a natural means for augmenting performance and attenuating complications associated with limited O2 availability or transport, hypertension and the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies indicate that dietary NO3- might also augment intrinsic skeletal muscle contractility and improve the speed and power of muscle contraction. Moreover, several investigations suggest that NO3- supplementation may improve aspects of cognitive performance both at rest and during exercise. Collectively, these observations position NO3- as more than a putative ergogenic aid and suggest that increasing natural dietary NO3- intake may act as a prophylactic in countering the predations of senescence and certain cardiovascular-metabolic diseases.

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) supplementation has been shown to increase biomarkers of nitric oxide availability with implications for the physiological responses to exercise. We hypothesized that BR supplementation before and during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise would maintain an elevated plasma nitrite concentration ([[Formula: see text]]), attenuate the expected progressive increase in V̇o2 over time, and improve performance in a subsequent time trial (TT). In a double-blind, randomized, crossover design, 12 men completed 2 h of moderate-intensity cycle exercise followed by a 100-kJ TT in three conditions: 1) BR before and 1 h into exercise (BR + BR); 2) BR before and placebo (PL) 1 h into exercise (BR + PL); and 3) PL before and 1 h into exercise (PL + PL). During the 2-h moderate-intensity exercise bout, plasma [[Formula: see text]] declined by ~17% in BR + PL but increased by ~8% in BR + BR such that, at 2 h, plasma [[Formula: see text]] was greater in BR + BR than both BR + PL and PL + PL ( P < 0.05). V̇o2 was not different among conditions over the first 90 min of exercise but was lower at 120 min in BR + BR (1.73 ± 0.24 l/min) compared with BR + PL (1.80 ± 0.21 l/min; P = 0.08) and PL + PL (1.83 ± 0.27 l/min; P < 0.01). The decline in muscle glycogen concentration over the 2-h exercise bout was attenuated in BR + BR (~28% decline) compared with BR + PL (~44% decline) and PL + PL (~44% decline; n = 9, P < 0.05). TT performance was not different among conditions ( P > 0.05). BR supplementation before and during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise attenuated the progressive rise in V̇o2 over time and appeared to reduce muscle glycogen depletion but did not enhance subsequent TT performance. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show for the first time that ingestion of nitrate during exercise preserves elevated plasma [nitrite] and negates the progressive rise in O2 uptake during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise.

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.

The physiological and exercise performance adaptations to sprint interval training (SIT) may be modified by dietary nitrate ([Formula: see text]) supplementation. However, it is possible that different types of [Formula: see text] supplementation evoke divergent physiological and performance adaptations to SIT. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 4-wk SIT with and without concurrent dietary [Formula: see text] supplementation administered as either [Formula: see text]-rich beetroot juice (BR) or potassium [Formula: see text] (KNO3). Thirty recreationally active subjects completed a battery of exercise tests before and after a 4-wk intervention in which they were allocated to one of three groups: 1) SIT undertaken without dietary [Formula: see text] supplementation (SIT); 2) SIT accompanied by concurrent BR supplementation (SIT + BR); or 3) SIT accompanied by concurrent KNO3 supplementation (SIT + KNO3). During severe-intensity exercise, V̇o2peak and time to task failure were improved to a greater extent with SIT + BR than SIT and SIT + KNO3 ( P < 0.05). There was also a greater reduction in the accumulation of muscle lactate at 3 min of severe-intensity exercise in SIT + BR compared with SIT + KNO3 ( P < 0.05). Plasma [Formula: see text] concentration fell to a greater extent during severe-intensity exercise in SIT + BR compared with SIT and SIT + KNO3 ( P < 0.05). There were no differences between groups in the reduction in the muscle phosphocreatine recovery time constant from pre- to postintervention ( P > 0.05). These findings indicate that 4-wk SIT with concurrent BR supplementation results in greater exercise capacity adaptations compared with SIT alone and SIT with concurrent KNO3 supplementation. This may be the result of greater NO-mediated signaling in SIT + BR compared with SIT + KNO3. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We compared the influence of different forms of dietary nitrate supplementation on the physiological and performance adaptations to sprint interval training (SIT). Compared with SIT alone, supplementation with nitrate-rich beetroot juice, but not potassium [Formula: see text], enhanced some physiological adaptations to training.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in the parameters of the power-time relationship (critical power (CP) and W') during endurance exercise would have important implications for performance. We tested the hypotheses that CP and W', estimated using the end-test power (EP) and the work done above EP (WEP), respectively, during a the 3-min all-out test (3MT), can be reliably determined, and would be lower, after completing 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise. METHODS: in study 1, six cyclists completed a 3MT immediately after 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise on two occasions to establish the reliability of EP and WEP. In study 2, nine cyclists completed a control 3MT, and a fatigued 3MT and constant power output tests to 30 min or the limit of tolerance (Tlim) below and above F-EP after 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise. RESULTS: in study 1, EP (273 ± 52 vs 276 ± 58 W) and WEP (12.4 ± 4.3 vs 12.8 ± 4.3 kJ) after 2 h of heavy-intensity exercise were not different (P > 0.05) and were highly correlated (r = 0.99; P < 0.001). In study 2, both EP (F-EP: 282 ± 52 vs C-EP: 306 ± 56 W; P < 0.01) and WEP (F-WEP: 14.7 ± 4.9 vs C-WEP: 18.3 ± 4.1 kJ; P < 0.05) were lower after 2-h heavy-intensity exercise. However, maximum O2 uptake was not achieved during exercise >F-EP and Tlim was shorter than 30 min during exercise

Inorganic nitrate (NO3-) supplementation has been shown to improve cardiovascular health indices in healthy adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the vehicle of NO3- administration can influence NO3- metabolism and the subsequent blood pressure response. Ten healthy males consumed an acute equimolar dose of NO3- (∼5.76 mmol) in the form of a concentrated beetroot juice drink (BR; 55 mL), a non-concentrated beetroot juice drink (BL; 456 mL) and a solid beetroot flapjack (BF; 60 g). A drink containing soluble beetroot crystals (BC; ∼1.40 mmol NO3-) and a control drink (CON; 70 mL deionised water) were also ingested. BP and plasma, salivary and urinary [NO3-] and [NO2-] were determined before and up to 24 h after ingestion. All NO3--rich vehicles elevated plasma, salivary and urinary nitric oxide metabolites compared with baseline and CON (P

A diet rich in vegetables is known to provide cardioprotection. However, it is unclear how the consumption of different vegetables might interact to influence vascular health. This study tested the hypothesis that nitrate-rich vegetable consumption would lower systolic blood pressure but that this effect would be abolished when nitrate-rich and thiocyanate-rich vegetables are co-ingested. On four separate occasions, and in a randomized cross-over design, eleven healthy males reported to the laboratory and consumed a 750 mL vegetable smoothie that was either: low in nitrate (∼0.3 mmol) and thiocyanate (∼5 μmol), low in nitrate and high in thiocyanate (∼72 μmol), high in nitrate (∼4 mmol) and low in thiocyanate and high in nitrate and thiocyanate. Blood pressure as well as plasma and salivary [thiocyanate], [nitrate] and [nitrite] were assessed before and 3 h after smoothie consumption. Plasma [nitrate] and [nitrite] and salivary [nitrate] were not different after consuming the two high-nitrate smoothies, but salivary [nitrite] was higher after consuming the high-nitrate low-thiocyanate smoothie (1183 ± 625 μM) compared to the high-nitrate high-thiocyanate smoothie (941 ± 532 μM; P 

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. The current study sought to explore attentional mechanisms underpinning visuomotor performance degradation following acute exercise. Ten experienced basketball players took free throws while wearing mobile eye tracking glasses, before and after performing a bout of cycling exercise. Shooting accuracy was measured using a 6-point scoring system, and quiet eye duration (the final fixation to a target) was adopted as an objective measure of top-down attentional control. Four intensities of exercise (based on an initial ramp test) were performed in a counterbalanced order: rest, moderate, heavy and severe. The four intensities resulted in participants reaching 52 ± 4%, 58 ± 4%, 76 ± 6% and 86 ± 5% of their heart rate max, respectively. Performance and quiet eye were only significantly impaired (19% and 45% drops, respectively) between pre- and post-intervention at the severe intensity workload level. Additionally, exercise-induced changes in quiet eye predicted 33% of the subsequent change in performance accuracy. The results suggest that attentional disruptions may at least partially explain why sporting skills break down under acute fatigue. Implications for training to mitigate against these impairments are discussed.

© 2017 the American Physiological Society. Dietary nitrate supplementation enhances sea level performance and may ameliorate hypoxemia at high altitude. However, nitrate may exacerbate acute mountain sickness (AMS), specifically headache. This study investigated the effect of nitrate supplementation on AMS symptoms and exercise responses with 6-h hypoxia. Twenty recreationally active men [age, 22 ± 4 yr, maximal oxygen consumption (V.O2max), 51 ± 6 ml•min-1•kg-1, means ± SD] completed this randomized doubleblinded placebo-controlled crossover study. Twelve participants were classified as AMS-on the basis of Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire [Acute Cerebral Mountain Sickness score (AMS-C)]

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.

Uptake of inorganic nitrate (NO3-) into the salivary circulation is a rate-limiting step for dietary NO3- metabolism in mammals. It has been suggested that salivary NO3- uptake occurs in competition with inorganic iodide (I-). Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that I- supplementation would interfere with NO3- metabolism and blunt blood pressure reductions after dietary NO3- supplementation. Nine healthy adults (4 male, mean ± SD, age 20 ± 1 yr) reported to the laboratory for initial baseline assessment (control) and following six day supplementation periods with 140 mL·day-1 NO3--rich beetroot juice (8.4 mmol NO3-·day-1) and 198 mg potassium gluconate·day-1 (nitrate), and 140 mL·day-1 NO3--rich beetroot juice and 450 μg potassium iodide·day-1 (nitrate + iodide) in a randomized, cross-over experiment. Salivary [I-] was higher in the nitrate + iodide compared to the control and NIT trials (P 

Lactate or gas exchange threshold (GET) and critical power (CP) are closely associated with human exercise performance. We tested the hypothesis that the limit of tolerance (Tlim) during cycle exercise performed within the exercise intensity domains demarcated by GET and CP is linked to discrete muscle metabolic and neuromuscular responses. Eleven men performed a ramp incremental exercise test, 4-5 severe-intensity (SEV; >CP) constant-work-rate (CWR) tests until Tlim, a heavy-intensity (HVY; GET) CWR test until Tlim, and a moderate-intensity (MOD;. 0.05) muscle metabolic milieu (i.e. low pH and [PCr] and high [lactate]) was attained at Tlim (approximately 2-14 min) for all SEV exercise bouts. The muscle metabolic perturbation was greater at Tlim following SEV compared with HVY, and also following SEV and HVY compared with MOD (all P < 0.05). The normalized M-wave amplitude for the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle decreased to a similar extent following SEV (-38 ± 15%), HVY (-68 ± 24%), and MOD (-53 ± 29%), (P > 0.05). Neural drive to the VL increased during SEV (4 ± 4%; P < 0.05) but did not change during HVY or MOD (P > 0.05). During SEV and HVY, but not MOD, the rates of change in M-wave amplitude and neural drive were correlated with changes in muscle metabolic ([PCr], [lactate]) and blood ionic/acid-base status ([lactate], [K+]) (P < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that the metabolic and neuromuscular determinants of fatigue development differ according to the intensity domain in which the exercise is performed.NEW & NOTEWORTHY the gas exchange threshold and the critical power demarcate discrete exercise intensity domains. For the first time, we show that the limit of tolerance during whole-body exercise within these domains is characterized by distinct metabolic and neuromuscular responses. Fatigue development during exercise greater than critical power is associated with the attainment of consistent "limiting" values of muscle metabolites, whereas substrate availability and limitations to muscle activation may constrain performance at lower intensities.

We tested the hypothesis that dietary nitrate (NO3-)-rich beetroot juice (BR) supplementation could partially offset deteriorations in O2 transport and utilization and exercise tolerance after blood donation. Twenty-two healthy volunteers performed moderate-intensity and ramp incremental cycle exercise tests prior to and following withdrawal of ∼450 ml of whole blood. Before donation, all subjects consumed seven 70-ml shots of NO3--depleted BR [placebo (PL)] in the 48 h preceding the exercise tests. During the 48 h after blood donation, subjects consumed seven shots of BR (each containing 6.2 mmol of NO3-, n = 11) or PL (n = 11) before repeating the exercise tests. Hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were reduced by ∼8-9% following blood donation (P < 0.05), with no difference between the BR and PL groups. Steady-state O2 uptake during moderate-intensity exercise was ∼4% lower after than before donation in the BR group (P < 0.05) but was unchanged in the PL group. The ramp test peak power decreased from predonation (341 ± 70 and 331 ± 68 W in PL and BR, respectively) to postdonation (324 ± 69 and 322 ± 66 W in PL and BR, respectively) in both groups (P < 0.05). However, the decrement in performance was significantly less in the BR than PL group (2.7% vs. 5.0%, P < 0.05). NO3- supplementation reduced the O2 cost of moderate-intensity exercise and attenuated the decline in ramp incremental exercise performance following blood donation. These results have implications for improving functional capacity following blood loss.

PURPOSE: to investigate whether chronic supplementation with a low or moderate dose of dietary nitrate (NO3(-)) reduces submaximal exercise oxygen uptake (V˙O2) and to assess whether or not this is dependent on acute NO3(-) administration prior to exercise. METHODS: Following baseline tests, 34 healthy subjects were allocated to receive 3 mmol NO3(-), 6 mmol NO3(-) or placebo. Two hours following the first ingestion, and after 7, 28 and 30 days of supplementation, subjects completed two moderate-intensity step exercise tests. On days 28 and 30, subjects in the NO3(-) groups completed the test 2 h post consumption of a NO3(-) dose (CHR + ACU) and a placebo dose (CHR). RESULTS: Plasma nitrite concentration ([NO2(-)]) was elevated in a dose-dependent manner at 2 h, 7 days and 28-30 days on the CHR + ACU visit. Compared to pre-treatment baseline, 6 mmol NO3(-) reduced the steady-state V˙O2 during moderate-intensity exercise by 3% at 2 h (P = 0.06), 7 days and at 28-30 days (both P 

Dietary supplementation with inorganic nitrate (NO3-) has been reported to improve cardiovascular health indices in healthy adults. Cigarette smoking increases circulating thiocyanate (SCN-), which has been suggested to competitively inhibit salivary nitrate (NO3-) uptake, a rate-limiting step in dietary NO3- metabolism. Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that dietary NO3- supplementation would be less effective at increasing the circulating plasma nitrite concentration ([NO2-]) and lowering blood pressure in smokers (S) compared to non-smokers (NS). Nine healthy smokers and eight healthy non-smoking controls reported to the laboratory at baseline (CON) and following six day supplementation periods with 140 mL day-1 NO3--rich (8.4 mmol NO3- day-1; NIT) and NO3--depleted (0.08 mmol NO3- day-1; PLA) beetroot juice in a cross-over experiment. Plasma and salivary [SCN-] were elevated in smokers compared to non-smokers in all experimental conditions (P 

PURPOSE: This study tested the hypothesis that nitrate (NO3-) supplementation would improve performance during high-intensity intermittent exercise featuring different work and recovery intervals. METHOD: Ten male team-sport players completed high-intensity intermittent cycling tests during separate 5-day supplementation periods with NO3 (-)-rich beetroot juice (BR; 8.2 mmol NO3- day(-1)) and NO3 (-)-depleted beetroot juice (PL; 0.08 mmol NO3- day(-1)). Subjects completed: twenty-four 6-s all-out sprints interspersed with 24 s of recovery (24 × 6-s); seven 30-s all-out sprints interspersed with 240 s of recovery (7 × 30-s); and six 60-s self-paced maximal efforts interspersed with 60 s of recovery (6 × 60-s); on days 3, 4, and 5 of supplementation, respectively. RESULT: Plasma [NO2-] was 237% greater in the BR trials. Mean power output was significantly greater with BR relative to PL in the 24 × 6-s protocol (568 ± 136 vs. 539 ± 136 W; P < 0.05), but not during the 7 × 30-s (558 ± 95 vs. 562 ± 94 W) or 6 × 60-s (374 ± 57 vs. 375 ± 59 W) protocols (P > 0.05). The increase in blood [lactate] across the 24 × 6-s and 7 × 30-s protocols was greater with BR (P < 0.05), but was not different in the 6 × 60-s protocol (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: BR might be ergogenic during repeated bouts of short-duration maximal-intensity exercise interspersed with short recovery periods, but not necessarily during longer duration intervals or when a longer recovery duration is applied. These findings suggest that BR might have implications for performance enhancement during some types of intermittent exercise.

We hypothesised that: 1) the critical power (CP) will represent a boundary separating steady state from non-steady state muscle metabolic responses during whole-body exercise and 2) that the CP and the W′ (curvature constant of the power-time relationship for high-intensity exercise) will be correlated with type I and type IIx muscle fibre distributions, respectively. Four men and four women performed a 3-min all-out cycling test for the estimation of CP and constant work rate (CWR) tests slightly >CP until exhaustion (Tlim), slightly CP Tlim isotime to test hypothesis 1. Eleven men performed 3-min all-out tests and donated muscle biopsies to test hypothesis 2. Below CP, muscle [PCr] (42.6±7.1 vs 49.4±6.9 mmol/kgDW), [La-] (34.8±12.6 vs 35.5±13.2 mmol/kgDW) and pH (7.11±0.08 vs 7.10±0.11) remained stable between ~12 and 24 min (P>0.05 for all), whereas these variables changed with time >CP such that they were greater ([La-] 95.6±14.1 mmol/kgDW) and lower ([PCr] 24.2±3.9 mmol/kgDW; pH 6.84±0.06) (P

© 2015, NRC Research Press. We hypothesized that acute dietary nitrate (NO3 -) provided as concentrated beetroot juice supplement would improve endurance running performance of well-trained runners in normobaric hypoxia. Ten male runners (mean (SD): sea level maximal oxygen uptake, 66 (7) mL・kg- 1・min− 1; 10 kmpersonal best, 36 (2) min) completed incremental exercise to exhaustion at 4000 m and a 10-km treadmill time-trial at 2500 m simulated altitude on separate days after supplementation with ~7 mmol NO3 - and a placebo at 2.5 h before exercise. Oxygen cost, arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were determined during the incremental exercise test. Differences between treatments were determined using means [95% confidence intervals], paired sample t tests, and a probability of individual response analysis. NO3 - supplementation increased plasma nitrite concentration (NO3 -, 473 (226) nmol・L- 1 vs. placebo, 61 (37) nmol・L- 1, P < 0.001) but did not alter time to exhaustion during the incremental test (NO3 -, 402 (80) s vs. placebo 393 (62) s, P = 0.5) or time to complete the 10-km time-trial (NO3 -, 2862 (233) s vs. placebo, 2874 (265) s, P = 0.6). Further, no practically meaningful beneficial effect on time-trial performance was observed as the 11 [-60 to 38] s improvement was less than the a priori determined minimum important difference (51 s), and only 3 runners experienced a “likely, probable” performance improvement. NO3 - also did not alter oxygen cost, arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate, or RPE. Acute dietary NO3 -supplementation did not consistently enhance running performance of well-trained athletes in normobaric hypoxia.

UNLABELLED: it is possible that dietary nitrate (NO3 (-)) supplementation may improve both physical and cognitive performance via its influence on blood flow and cellular energetics. PURPOSE: to investigate the effects of dietary NO3 (-) supplementation on exercise performance and cognitive function during a prolonged intermittent sprint test (IST) protocol, which was designed to reflect typical work patterns during team sports. METHODS: in a double-blind randomised crossover study, 16 male team-sport players received NO3 (-)-rich (BR; 140 mL day(-1); 12.8 mmol of NO3 (-)), and NO3 (-)-depleted (PL; 140 mL day(-1); 0.08 mmol NO3 (-)) beetroot juice for 7 days. On day 7 of supplementation, subjects completed the IST (two 40-min "halves" of repeated 2-min blocks consisting of a 6-s "all-out" sprint, 100-s active recovery and 20 s of rest), on a cycle ergometer during which cognitive tasks were simultaneously performed. RESULTS: Total work done during the sprints of the IST was greater in BR (123 ± 19 kJ) compared to PL (119 ± 17 kJ; P < 0.05). Reaction time of response to the cognitive tasks in the second half of the IST was improved in BR compared to PL (BR first half: 820 ± 96 vs. second half: 817 ± 86 ms; PL first half: 824 ± 114 vs. second half: 847 ± 118 ms; P < 0.05). There was no difference in response accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dietary NO3 (-) enhances repeated sprint performance and may attenuate the decline in cognitive function (and specifically reaction time) that may occur during prolonged intermittent exercise.

We tested the hypothesis that inorganic nitrate (NO3 (-)) supplementation would improve muscle oxygenation, pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇o2) kinetics, and exercise tolerance (Tlim) to a greater extent when cycling at high compared with low pedal rates. In a randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over study, seven subjects (mean ± SD, age 21 ± 2 yr, body mass 86 ± 10 kg) completed severe-intensity step cycle tests at pedal cadences of 35 rpm and 115 rpm during separate nine-day supplementation periods with NO3 (-)-rich beetroot juice (BR) (providing 8.4 mmol NO3 (-)/day) and placebo (PLA). Compared with PLA, plasma nitrite concentration increased 178% with BR (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in muscle oxyhemoglobin concentration ([O2Hb]), phase II V̇o2 kinetics, or Tlim between BR and PLA when cycling at 35 rpm (P > 0.05). However, when cycling at 115 rpm, muscle [O2Hb] was higher at baseline and throughout exercise, phase II V̇o2 kinetics was faster (47 ± 16 s vs. 61 ± 25 s; P < 0.05), and Tlim was greater (362 ± 137 s vs. 297 ± 79 s; P < 0.05) with BR compared with PLA. These results suggest that short-term BR supplementation can increase muscle oxygenation, expedite the adjustment of oxidative metabolism, and enhance exercise tolerance when cycling at a high, but not a low, pedal cadence in healthy recreationally active subjects. These findings support recent observations that NO3 (-) supplementation may be particularly effective at improving physiological and functional responses in type II muscle fibers.

Chlorhexidine-containing mouthwash (STRONG), which disturbs oral microflora, has been shown to diminish the rise in plasma nitrite concentration ([NO2-]) and attenuate the reduction in resting blood pressure (BP) typically seen after acute nitrate (NO3-) ingestion. We aimed to determine whether STRONG and weaker antiseptic agents attenuate the physiological effects of chronic NO3- supplementation using beetroot juice (BR). 12 healthy volunteers mouth-rinsed with STRONG, non-chlorhexidine mouthwash (WEAK) and deionised water (CON) 3 times a day, and ingested 70 mL BR (6.2 mmol NO3-), twice a day, for 6 days. BP (at rest and during 10 min of treadmill walking) and plasma and salivary [NO3-] and [NO2-] were measured prior to and on day 6 of supplementation. The change in salivary [NO3-] 4 h post final ingestion was higher (P

We investigated the effects of dietary nitrate (NO3 (-)) supplementation on the concentration of plasma nitrite ([NO2 (-)]), oxygen uptake (V̇o2) kinetics, and exercise tolerance in normoxia (N) and hypoxia (H). In a double-blind, crossover study, 12 healthy subjects completed cycle exercise tests, twice in N (20.9% O2) and twice in H (13.1% O2). Subjects ingested either 140 ml/day of NO3 (-)-rich beetroot juice (8.4 mmol NO3; BR) or NO3 (-)-depleted beetroot juice (PL) for 3 days prior to moderate-intensity and severe-intensity exercise tests in H and N. Preexercise plasma [NO2 (-)] was significantly elevated in H-BR and N-BR compared with H-PL (P < 0.01) and N-PL (P < 0.01). The rate of decline in plasma [NO2 (-)] was greater during severe-intensity exercise in H-BR [-30 ± 22 nM/min, 95% confidence interval (CI); -44, -16] compared with H-PL (-7 ± 10 nM/min, 95% CI; -13, -1; P < 0.01) and in N-BR (-26 ± 19 nM/min, 95% CI; -38, -14) compared with N-PL (-1 ± 6 nM/min, 95% CI; -5, 2; P < 0.01). During moderate-intensity exercise, steady-state pulmonary V̇o2 was lower in H-BR (1.91 ± 0.28 l/min, 95% CI; 1.77, 2.13) compared with H-PL (2.05 ± 0.25 l/min, 95% CI; 1.93, 2.26; P = 0.02), and V̇o2 kinetics was faster in H-BR (τ: 24 ± 13 s, 95% CI; 15, 32) compared with H-PL (31 ± 11 s, 95% CI; 23, 38; P = 0.04). NO3 (-) supplementation had no significant effect on V̇o2 kinetics during severe-intensity exercise in hypoxia, or during moderate-intensity or severe-intensity exercise in normoxia. Tolerance to severe-intensity exercise was improved by NO3 (-) in hypoxia (H-PL: 197 ± 28; 95% CI; 173, 220 vs. H-BR: 214 ± 43 s, 95% CI; 177, 249; P = 0.04) but not normoxia. The metabolism of NO2 (-) during exercise is altered by NO3 (-) supplementation, exercise, and to a lesser extent, hypoxia. In hypoxia, NO3 (-) supplementation enhances V̇o2 kinetics during moderate-intensity exercise and improves severe-intensity exercise tolerance. These findings may have important implications for individuals exercising at altitude.

Dietary supplementation with beetroot juice (BR), containing approximately 5-8 mmol inorganic nitrate (NO3(-)), increases plasma nitrite concentration ([NO2(-)]), reduces blood pressure, and may positively influence the physiological responses to exercise. However, the dose-response relationship between the volume of BR ingested and the physiological effects invoked has not been investigated. In a balanced crossover design, 10 healthy men ingested 70, 140, or 280 ml concentrated BR (containing 4.2, 8.4, and 16.8 mmol NO3(-), respectively) or no supplement to establish the effects of BR on resting plasma [NO3(-)] and [NO2(-)] over 24 h. Subsequently, on six separate occasions, 10 subjects completed moderate-intensity and severe-intensity cycle exercise tests, 2.5 h postingestion of 70, 140, and 280 ml BR or NO3(-)-depleted BR as placebo (PL). Following acute BR ingestion, plasma [NO2(-)] increased in a dose-dependent manner, with the peak changes occurring at approximately 2-3 h. Compared with PL, 70 ml BR did not alter the physiological responses to exercise. However, 140 and 280 ml BR reduced the steady-state oxygen (O2) uptake during moderate-intensity exercise by 1.7% (P = 0.06) and 3.0% (P < 0.05), whereas time-to-task failure was extended by 14% and 12% (both P < 0.05), respectively, compared with PL. The results indicate that whereas plasma [NO2(-)] and the O2 cost of moderate-intensity exercise are altered dose dependently with NO3(-)-rich BR, there is no additional improvement in exercise tolerance after ingesting BR containing 16.8 compared with 8.4 mmol NO3(-). These findings have important implications for the use of BR to enhance cardiovascular health and exercise performance in young adults.

Recent studies have suggested that dietary inorganic nitrate (NO 3- ) supplementation may improve muscle efficiency and endurance exercise tolerance but possible effects during team sport-specific intense intermittent exercise have not been examined. We hypothesized that NO 3- supplementation would enhance high-intensity intermittent exercise performance. Fourteen male recreational team-sport players were assigned in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design to consume 490 mL of concentrated, nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) and nitrate-depleted placebo juice (PL) over ∼30 h preceding the completion of a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (Yo-Yo IR1). Resting plasma nitrite concentration ([NO 2- ]) was ∼400 % greater in BR compared to PL. Plasma [NO 2- ] declined by 20 % in PL (P < 0.05) and by 54 % in BR (P < 0.05) from pre-exercise to end-exercise. Performance in the Yo-Yo IR1 was 4.2 % greater (P < 0.05) with BR (1,704 ± 304 m) compared to PL (1,636 ± 288 m). Blood [lactate] was not different between BR and PL, but the mean blood [glucose] was lower (3.8 ± 0.8 vs. 4.2 ± 1.1 mM, P < 0.05) and the rise in plasma [K + ] tended to be reduced in BR compared to PL (P = 0.08). These findings suggest that NO 3- supplementation may promote NO production via the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway and enhance Yo-Yo IR1 test performance, perhaps by facilitating greater muscle glucose uptake or by better maintaining muscle excitability. Dietary NO 3- supplementation improves performance during intense intermittent exercise and may be a useful ergogenic aid for team sports players. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Recent studies have suggested that dietary inorganic nitrate (NO₃(-)) supplementation may improve muscle efficiency and endurance exercise tolerance but possible effects during team sport-specific intense intermittent exercise have not been examined. We hypothesized that NO₃(-) supplementation would enhance high-intensity intermittent exercise performance. Fourteen male recreational team-sport players were assigned in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design to consume 490 mL of concentrated, nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) and nitrate-depleted placebo juice (PL) over ~30 h preceding the completion of a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (Yo-Yo IR1). Resting plasma nitrite concentration ([NO₂(-)]) was ~400% greater in BR compared to PL. Plasma [NO₂(-)] declined by 20% in PL (P < 0.05) and by 54 % in BR (P < 0.05) from pre-exercise to end-exercise. Performance in the Yo-Yo IR1 was 4.2% greater (P < 0.05) with BR (1,704 ± 304 m) compared to PL (1,636 ± 288 m). Blood [lactate] was not different between BR and PL, but the mean blood [glucose] was lower (3.8 ± 0.8 vs. 4.2 ± 1.1 mM, P < 0.05) and the rise in plasma [K(+)] tended to be reduced in BR compared to PL (P = 0.08). These findings suggest that NO₃(-) supplementation may promote NO production via the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway and enhance Yo-Yo IR1 test performance, perhaps by facilitating greater muscle glucose uptake or by better maintaining muscle excitability. Dietary NO₃(-) supplementation improves performance during intense intermittent exercise and may be a useful ergogenic aid for team sports players.

PURPOSE: the power asymptote (critical power [CP]) and curvature constant (W′) of the power-duration relationship dictate the tolerance to severe-intensity exercise. We tested the hypothesis that dietary nitrate supplementation would increase the CP and/or the W′ during cycling exercise. METHODS: in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study, nine recreationally active male subjects supplemented their diet with either nitrate-rich concentrated beetroot juice (BR; 2 × 250 mL·d, ∼8.2 mmol·d nitrate) or a nitrate-depleted BR placebo (PL; 2 × 250 mL·d, ∼0.006 mmol·d nitrate). In each condition, the subjects completed four separate severe-intensity exercise bouts to exhaustion at 60% of the difference between the gas exchange threshold and the peak power attained during incremental exercise (60% Δ), 70% Δ, 80% Δ, and 100% peak power, and the results were used to establish CP and W′. RESULTS: Nitrate supplementation improved exercise tolerance during exercise at 60% Δ (BR, 696 ± 120 vs PL, 593 ± 68 s; P < 0.05), 70% Δ (BR, 452 ± 106 vs PL, 390 ± 86 s; P < 0.05), and 80% Δ (BR, 294 ± 50 vs PL, 263 ± 50 s; P < 0.05) but not 100% peak power (BR, 182 ± 37 vs PL, 166 ± 26 s; P = 0.10). Neither CP (BR, 221 ± 27 vs PL, 218 ± 26 W) nor W′ (BR, 19.3 ± 4.6 vs PL, 17.8 ± 3 kJ) were significantly altered by BR. CONCLUSION: Dietary nitrate supplementation improved endurance during severe-intensity exercise in recreationally active subjects without significantly increasing either the CP or the W′. Copyright © 2013 by the American College of Sports Medicine.

PURPOSE: the power asymptote (critical power [CP]) and curvature constant (W') of the power-duration relationship dictate the tolerance to severe-intensity exercise. We tested the hypothesis that dietary nitrate supplementation would increase the CP and/or the W' during cycling exercise. METHODS: in a double-blind, randomized, crossover study, nine recreationally active male subjects supplemented their diet with either nitrate-rich concentrated beetroot juice (BR; 2 × 250 mL·d, ∼8.2 mmol·d nitrate) or a nitrate-depleted BR placebo (PL; 2 × 250 mL·d, ∼0.006 mmol·d nitrate). In each condition, the subjects completed four separate severe-intensity exercise bouts to exhaustion at 60% of the difference between the gas exchange threshold and the peak power attained during incremental exercise (60% Δ), 70% Δ, 80% Δ, and 100% peak power, and the results were used to establish CP and W'. RESULTS: Nitrate supplementation improved exercise tolerance during exercise at 60% Δ (BR, 696 ± 120 vs PL, 593 ± 68 s; P < 0.05), 70% Δ (BR, 452 ± 106 vs PL, 390 ± 86 s; P < 0.05), and 80% Δ (BR, 294 ± 50 vs PL, 263 ± 50 s; P < 0.05) but not 100% peak power (BR, 182 ± 37 vs PL, 166 ± 26 s; P = 0.10). Neither CP (BR, 221 ± 27 vs PL, 218 ± 26 W) nor W' (BR, 19.3 ± 4.6 vs PL, 17.8 ± 3 kJ) were significantly altered by BR. CONCLUSION: Dietary nitrate supplementation improved endurance during severe-intensity exercise in recreationally active subjects without significantly increasing either the CP or the W'.