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Effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses to submaximal cycling in the heat

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Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated whether reported improvements in blood flow distribution, and the possible related effects on thermoregulation during exercise following supplementation with beetroot juice (BR), a rich source of dietary nitrate (NO3−), are mitigated in the heat.

Methods

12 male endurance-trained cyclists (age 27 ± 6 years, VO2peak 68.6 ± 8.1 ml kg−1 min−1) completed two 60 min submaximal cycling trials at 60% of VO2peak power output. Trials were performed in hot environmental conditions (33.3 ± 0.4 °C, 48.8 ± 3.0% RH) following 3 days of supplementation with either NO3−-rich BR (6.5 mmol NO3− for 2 days and 13 mmol NO3− on the final day) or NO3−-depleted placebo (PLA). Salivary NO3− and nitrite (NO2−) were measured before and after the supplementation period. During exercise, cutaneous blood flow, blood pressure (MAP), core temperature (Tc), mean skin temperature (Tsk), indices of muscle oxygenation and oxygen (O2) consumption were measured.

Results

Salivary NO3− and NO2− increased significantly following BR by 680 and 890%, respectively. There were no significant differences observed for cutaneous blood flow, MAP, Tc, Tsk, muscle oxygenation, or O2 consumption between BR and PLA.

Conclusion

This investigation shows that the ergogenic effects and health benefits of BR supplementation, such as augmented cutaneous blood flow, reduced MAP, increased muscle oxygenation, and improved aerobic efficiency may be attenuated when exercise is performed in hot conditions.

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Abbreviations

%CVCpeak :

Percentage of peak CVC

BR:

Beetroot juice

CI:

Confidence intervals

CVC:

Cutaneous vascular conductance

Hb:

Haemoglobin

HbO2 :

Oxygenated haemoglobin

HHb:

Deoxygenated haemoglobin

HR:

Heart rate

MAP:

Mean arterial pressure

NIRS:

Near-infrared spectroscopy

NO:

Nitric oxide

NO2 − :

Nitrite

NO3 − :

Nitrate

O2 :

Oxygen

PLA:

Placebo

PU:

Perfusion units

RPE:

Ratings of perceived exertion

RPTS:

Ratings of perceived thermal sensation

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

T c :

Core temperature

TOI:

Tissue oxygenation index

T sk :

Skin temperature

VO2 :

Oxygen consumption

VO2peak :

Peak oxygen consumption

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the participants and testing assistants for their time and effort in this study.

Funding

This study was funded by the Australian Institute of Sport through the High Performance Sport Research Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Georgina L. Kent, Brian Dawson, Kurt J. Smith, Zi Xiang Lim & Peter Peeling

  2. Sports Nutrition, Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce, Canberra, ACT, 2617, Australia

    Gregory R. Cox & Louise M. Burke

  3. Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Dr, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia

    Chris R. Abbiss

  4. School of Medicine and Pharmacology Royal Perth Hospital Unit, The University of Western Australia, Medical Research Foundation Building, 50 Murray St, Perth, WA, 6000, Australia

    Kevin D. Croft

  5. Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Leverrier Crescent, Bruce, Canberra, ACT, 2617, Australia

    Annette Eastwood

  6. Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, 215 Spring St, Melbourne, 3000, Australia

    Louise M. Burke

  7. Western Australian Institute of Sport, PO Box 139, Claremont, WA, 6910, Australia

    Peter Peeling

Authors
  1. Georgina L. Kent
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  2. Brian Dawson
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  3. Gregory R. Cox
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  6. Kevin D. Croft
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  7. Zi Xiang Lim
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  8. Annette Eastwood
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  9. Louise M. Burke
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  10. Peter Peeling
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Contributions

Conception and design of study: GK BD GRC LMB PP CRA KJS KRC AE ZXL. Collection of data: GK KJS AE ZXL. Analysis of data: GK BD GRC LMB PP KJS KRC AE ZXL. Protocol training and contribution of testing equipment: CRA KRC. Writing, revision and final approval of manuscript: GK BD GRC LMB PP CRA KJS.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Georgina L. Kent.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The products from James White Drinks Ltd. were all purchased commercially.

Additional information

Communicated by George Havenith.

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Kent, G.L., Dawson, B., Cox, G.R. et al. Effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses to submaximal cycling in the heat. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 657–668 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3809-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3809-z

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