title: Effects of a Short-Term High-Nitrate Diet on Exercise Performance.
abstract: It has been reported that nitrate supplementation can improve exercise performance. Most of the studies have used either beetroot juice or sodium nitrate as a supplement; there is lack of data on the potential ergogenic benefits of an increased dietary nitrate intake from a diet based on fruits and vegetables. Our aim was to assess whether a high-nitrate diet increases nitric oxide bioavailability and to evaluate the effects of this nutritional intervention on exercise performance. Seven healthy male subjects participated in a randomized cross-over study. They were tested before and after 6 days of a high (HND) or control (CD) nitrate diet (~8.2 mmol∙day(-1) or ~2.9 mmol∙day(-1), respectively). Plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations were significantly higher in HND (127 ± 64 µM and 350 ± 120 nM, respectively) compared to CD (23 ± 10 µM and 240 ± 100 nM, respectively). In HND (vs. CD) were observed: (a) a significant reduction of oxygen consumption during moderate-intensity constant work-rate cycling exercise (1.178 ± 0.141 vs. 1.269 ± 0.136 L·min(-1)); (b) a significantly higher total muscle work during fatiguing, intermittent sub-maximal isometric knee extension (357.3 ± 176.1 vs. 253.6 ± 149.0 Nm·s·kg(-1)); (c) an improved performance in Repeated Sprint Ability test. These findings suggest that a high-nitrate diet could be a feasible and effective strategy to improve exercise performance.
authors: Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, Segrate 20090, Italy. simone.porcelli@ibfm.cnr.it.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Porcelli
authors: Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, Segrate 20090, Italy. lorenz.pugliese@gmail.com.
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Pugliese
authors: Department of Neurological Surgery, Kentucky Spinal Cord Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. enricorejc@kentuckyonehealth.org.
authors: Enrico
authors: E
authors: Rejc
authors: Department of Pathopysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20100, Italy. gaspare.pavei@unimi.it.
authors: Gaspare
authors: G
authors: Pavei
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20100, Italy. matteo.bonato@unimi.it.
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Bonato
authors: Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, Segrate 20090, Italy. michela.montorsi@unisanraffaele.gov.it.|Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of Quality of Life, Telematic University S. Raffaele, Roma 00166, Italy. michela.montorsi@unisanraffaele.gov.it.
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Montorsi
authors: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20100, Italy. antonio.latorre@unimi.it.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: La Torre
authors: Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, Segrate 20090, Italy. letizia.rasica@ibfm.cnr.it.|Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20100, Italy. letizia.rasica@ibfm.cnr.it.
authors: Letizia
authors: L
authors: Rasica
authors: Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council, Segrate 20090, Italy. mauro.marzorati@ibfm.cnr.it.|Department of Psychology, Exercise and Sport Science Degree Course, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan 20100, Italy. mauro.marzorati@ibfm.cnr.it.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Marzorati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013997:Time Factors; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: diet; intermittent high-intensity exercise; nitric oxide; oxygen cost of exercise