title: The Effects of Nitrate-Rich Supplementation on Neuromuscular Efficiency during Heavy Resistance Exercise.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nitrate-rich (NR) supplements can enhance exercise performance by improving neuromuscular function and the aerobic cost of exercise. However, little is known about the effects of nitrate on dynamic, multijoint resistance exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen resistance-trained men (age, 21.1 ± 0.9 years; height, 173.2 ± 2.9 cm: body mass, 77.6 ± 4.3 kg; squat one-repetition maximum [1RM], 127.5 ± 18.8 kg) participated in a randomized, double-blind, crossover experiment. Subjects consumed an NR or nitrate-poor (NP) supplement for 3 days, performed a bout of heavy resistance exercise, completed a washout, and then repeated the procedures with the remaining supplement. Before, during, and after exercise, individual and gross motor unit efficiency was assessed during isometric and dynamic muscle contractions. In addition, we compared physical performance, heart rate, lactate, and oxygen consumption (VO2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nitrate-rich supplementation resulted in lower initial muscle firing rates at rest and lower mean and maximum firing rates over the course of fatiguing exercise. Nitrate-poor supplementation was accompanied by increased mean and maximum firing rates by the end of exercise and lower initial firing rates. In addition, NR supplementation resulted in higher mean peak electromyography (EMG) amplitudes. Heart rate, lactate, and physical performance did not differ by treatment, but oxygen consumption increased more frequently when the NP supplement was consumed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation with an NR beetroot extract-based supplement provided neuromuscular advantages during metabolically taxing resistance exercise.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Looney
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: Mark J S
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: DuPont
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pryor
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: Brent C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Creighton
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sterczala
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: Tunde K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Szivak
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: Carl M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Maresh
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: Jeff S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Volek
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: Lindsay A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Sciences , The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (S.D.F., W.H.D., B.C.C., A.J.S., T.K.S., D.R.H., C.M.M., J.S.V., W.J.K.); Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut (D.P.L., L.P., B.C.C., L.A.E.); Healthy Directions , Bethesda , Maryland (M.J.S.M.).
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kraemer
mesh_terms: D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011999:Recruitment, Neurophysiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates
keywords: beetroot; dietary supplements; nitrate; nitric oxide; nitrite; resistance exercise; sports nutrition