Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of acute dietary nitrate supplementation on 50 mile time trial performance in well-trained cyclists

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Dietary nitrate supplementation has been reported to improve short distance time trial (TT) performance by 1–3 % in club-level cyclists. It is not known if these ergogenic effects persist in longer endurance events or if dietary nitrate supplementation can enhance performance to the same extent in better trained individuals. Eight well-trained male cyclists performed two laboratory-based 50 mile TTs: (1) 2.5 h after consuming 0.5 L of nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) and (2) 2.5 h after consuming 0.5 L of nitrate-depleted BR as a placebo (PL). BR significantly elevated plasma [NO2 −] (BR: 472 ± 96 vs. PL: 379 ± 94 nM; P < 0.05) and reduced completion time for the 50 mile TT by 0.8 % (BR: 136.7 ± 5.6 vs. PL: 137.9 ± 6.4 min), which was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was a significant correlation between the increased post-beverage plasma [NO2 −] with BR and the reduction in TT completion time (r = −0.83, P = 0.01). Power output (PO) was not different between the conditions at any point (P > 0.05) but oxygen uptake (\( \dot{V} \)O2) tended to be lower in BR (P = 0.06), resulting in a significantly greater PO/\( \dot{V} \)O2 ratio (BR: 67.4 ± 5.5 vs. PL: 65.3 ± 4.8 W L min−1; P < 0.05). In conclusion, acute dietary supplementation with beetroot juice did not significantly improve 50 mile TT performance in well-trained cyclists. It is possible that the better training status of the cyclists in this study might reduce the physiological and performance response to NO3 − supplementation compared with the moderately trained cyclists tested in earlier studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bailey SJ, Winyard P, Vanhatalo A, Blackwell JR, Dimenna FJ, Wilkerson DP, Tarr J, Benjamin N, Jones AM (2009) Dietary nitrate supplementation reduces the O2 cost of low-intensity exercise and enhances tolerance to high-intensity exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol 107(4):1144–1155. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00722.2009

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey SJ, Fulford J, Vanhatalo A, Winyard PG, Blackwell JR, DiMenna FJ, Wilkerson DP, Benjamin N, Jones AM (2010) Dietary nitrate supplementation enhances muscle contractile efficiency during knee-extensor exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol 109(1):135–148. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00046.2010

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bateman RM, Ellis CG, Freeman DJ (2002) Optimization of nitric oxide chemiluminescence operating conditions for measurement of plasma nitrite and nitrate. Clin Chem 48(3):570–573

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin N, Vallance P (1994) Plasma nitrite as a marker of nitric oxide production. Lancet 344(8927):960 pii:S0140-6736(94)92317-5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bescos R, Rodriguez FA, Iglesias X, Ferrer MD, Iborra E, Pons A (2011) Acute administration of inorganic nitrate reduces VO(2peak) in endurance athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43(10):1979–1986. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e318217d439

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castello PR, David PS, McClure T, Crook Z, Poyton RO (2006) Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase produces nitric oxide under hypoxic conditions: implications for oxygen sensing and hypoxic signaling in eukaryotes. Cell Metab 3(4):277. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2006.02.011

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cermak NM, Gibala MJ, van Loon LJ (2012) Nitrate supplementation’s improvement of 10-km time-trial performance in trained cyclists. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 22(1):64–71

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cosby K, Partovi KS, Crawford JH, Patel RP, Reiter CD, Martyr S, Yang BK, Waclawiw MA, Zalos G, Xu X, Huang KT, Shields H, Kim-Shapiro DB, Schechter AN, Cannon RO 3rd, Gladwin MT (2003) Nitrite reduction to nitric oxide by deoxyhemoglobin vasodilates the human circulation. Nat Med 9(12):1498–1505. doi:10.1038/nm954nm954

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davison RCR, Corbett J, Ansley L (2009) Influence of temperature and protocol on the calibration of the Computrainer electromagnetically braked cycling ergometer. Int Sport Med J 10(2):66–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira LF, Behnke BJ (2011) A toast to health and performance! Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure and the O2 cost of exercise. J Appl Physiol 110(3):585–586. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01457.2010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Govoni M, Jansson EA, Weitzberg E, Lundberg JO (2008) The increase in plasma nitrite after a dietary nitrate load is markedly attenuated by an antibacterial mouthwash. Nitric Oxide 19(4):333–337. doi:10.1016/j.niox.2008.08.003

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen L, Bangsbo J, Hellsten Y (2004) Effect of high intensity training on capillarization and presence of angiogenic factors in human skeletal muscle. J Physiol 557(Pt 2):571–582. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2003.057711

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jungersten L, Ambring A, Wall B, Wennmalm A (1997) Both physical fitness and acute exercise regulate nitric oxide formation in healthy humans. J Appl Physiol 82(3):760–764

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lansley KE, Winyard PG, Bailey SJ, Vanhatalo A, Wilkerson DP, Blackwell JR, Gilchrist M, Benjamin N, Jones AM (2011a) Acute dietary nitrate supplementation improves cycling time trial performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 43(6):1125–1131. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e31821597b4

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lansley KE, Winyard PG, Fulford J, Vanhatalo A, Bailey SJ, Blackwell JR, DiMenna FJ, Gilchrist M, Benjamin N, Jones AM (2011b) Dietary nitrate supplementation reduces the O2 cost of walking and running: a placebo-controlled study. J Appl Physiol 110(3):591–600. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01070.2010

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen FJ, Weitzberg E, Lundberg JO, Ekblom B (2007) Effects of dietary nitrate on oxygen cost during exercise. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 191(1):59–66. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1716.2007.01713.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen FJ, Weitzberg E, Lundberg JO, Ekblom B (2010) Dietary nitrate reduces maximal oxygen consumption while maintaining work performance in maximal exercise. Free Radic Biol Med 48(2):342–347. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2009.11.006

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen FJ, Schiffer TA, Borniquel S, Sahlin K, Ekblom B, Lundberg JO, Weitzberg E (2011) Dietary inorganic nitrate improves mitochondrial efficiency in humans. Cell Metab 13(2):149–159. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2011.01.004

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg JO, Govoni M (2004) Inorganic nitrate is a possible source for systemic generation of nitric oxide. Free Radic Biol Med 37(3):395–400. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.04.027

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McAllister RM, Laughlin MH (2006) Vascular nitric oxide: effects of physical activity, importance for health. Essays Biochem 42:119–131. doi:10.1042/bse0420119

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McConell GK, Bradley SJ, Stephens TJ, Canny BJ, Kingwell BA, Lee-Young RS (2007) Skeletal muscle nNOS mu protein content is increased by exercise training in humans. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 293(2):R821–R828. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00796.2006

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Modin A, Bjorne H, Herulf M, Alving K, Weitzberg E, Lundberg JO (2001) Nitrite-derived nitric oxide: a possible mediator of ‘acidic-metabolic’ vasodilation. Acta Physiol Scand 171(1):9–16 pii:aps771

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paton CD, Hopkins WG (2006) Ergometer error and biological variation in power output in a performance test with three cycle ergometers. Int J Sports Med 27(6):444–447. doi:10.1055/s-2005-865781

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rassaf T, Lauer T, Heiss C, Balzer J, Mangold S, Leyendecker T, Rottler J, Drexhage C, Meyer C, Kelm M (2007) Nitric oxide synthase-derived plasma nitrite predicts exercise capacity. Br J Sports Med 41(10):669–673 (discussion 673). doi:10.1136/bjsm.2007.035758

    Google Scholar 

  • Schena F, Cuzzolin L, Rossi L, Pasetto M, Benoni G (2002) Plasma nitrite/nitrate and erythropoietin levels in cross-country skiers during altitude training. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 42(2):129–134

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vanhatalo A, Bailey SJ, Blackwell JR, DiMenna FJ, Pavey TG, Wilkerson DP, Benjamin N, Winyard PG, Jones AM (2010) Acute and chronic effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on blood pressure and the physiological responses to moderate-intensity and incremental exercise. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 299(4):R1121–R1131. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00206.2010

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vanhatalo A, Fulford J, Bailey SJ, Blackwell JR, Winyard PG, Jones AM (2011) Dietary nitrate reduces muscle metabolic perturbation and improves exercise tolerance in hypoxia. J Physiol 589(Pt 22):5517–5528. doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2011.216341

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webb AJ, Patel N, Loukogeorgakis S, Okorie M, Aboud Z, Misra S, Rashid R, Miall P, Deanfield J, Benjamin N, MacAllister R, Hobbs AJ, Ahluwalia A (2008) Acute blood pressure lowering, vasoprotective, and antiplatelet properties of dietary nitrate via bioconversion to nitrite. Hypertension 51(3):784–790. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.107.103523

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK

    Daryl P. Wilkerson, Giles M. Hayward, Stephen J. Bailey, Anni Vanhatalo, Jamie R. Blackwell & Andrew M. Jones

Authors
  1. Daryl P. Wilkerson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Giles M. Hayward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stephen J. Bailey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anni Vanhatalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jamie R. Blackwell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Andrew M. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daryl P. Wilkerson.

Additional information

Communicated by David C. Poole.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wilkerson, D.P., Hayward, G.M., Bailey, S.J. et al. Influence of acute dietary nitrate supplementation on 50 mile time trial performance in well-trained cyclists. Eur J Appl Physiol 112, 4127–4134 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2397-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2397-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation