| Reference: | "Acute dietary nitrate supplementation improves cycling time trial performance," Lansley KE, Winyard PG, et al, Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2011 June; 43(6): 1125-31. (Address: Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, St Luke's Campus, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom). |
| Summary: | In a randomized, crossover study involving 9 club-level competitive male cyclists, consumption of beetroot juice (0.5 L/d) containing ~ 6.2 mmol nitrate, 2.5 hours before completion of a 4- and 16.1-km cycling time trial was found to be associated with elevations in plasma nitrite and significant increases in mean power output during the 4-km and 16.1-km cycling time trials. Consumption of beetroot juice rich in nitrate was found to improve 4-km performance by 2.8% and 16.1 km performance by 2.7%. The authors state, "These results suggest that acute dietary nitrate supplementation with 0.5 L of BR improves cycling economy, as demonstrated by a higher PO for the same VO2 and enhances both 4- and 16.1-km cycling TT performance." |
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