title: Dietary nitrate improves sprint performance and cognitive function during prolonged intermittent exercise.
abstract: It is possible that dietary nitrate (NO3 (-)) supplementation may improve both physical and cognitive performance via its influence on blood flow and cellular energetics.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, St. Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Lee J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wylie
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fulford
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Matthew I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Sinead T J
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: McDonagh
authors.forename: Asker E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Jeukendrup
authors.forename: Anni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vanhatalo
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates
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