Ingestion of a Nitric Oxide Enhancing Supplement Improves Resistance Exercise Performance

Abstract

Abstract:Studies have established that supplementation of nitrate increases nitrous oxide which in turn improves exercise performance. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of nitrate ingestion on performance of bench press resistance exercise till failure. Twelve recreationally active (age, 21 ± 2yrs, height, 177.2 ± 4.0 cm, weight, 82.49 ± 9.78 kg) resistance trained males participated in the study. The study utilised a double blind randomized cross-over design, where subjects ingested either 70 ml of "BEET It Sport ®" nitrate shot containing 6.4 millimoles (mmol/L) or 400 mg of nitrate; or a blackcurrant placebo drink. Participants completed a resistance exercise session, consisting of bench press exercise at an intensity of 60% of their established 1 repetition maximum (1-RM), for three sets until failure with 2 minute rest interval between sets. The repetitions completed, total weight lifted, local and general rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood lactate were all measured. The results showed a significant difference in repetitions till failure (p=<0.001) and total weight lifted (p=<0.001). However there were no significant difference between blood lactate over the two trials (p = 0.238), and no difference in Local (p= 0.807) or general (p= 0.420) indicators of fatigue as measured by RPE. This study demonstrates that nitrate supplementation has the potential to improve resistance training performance and work output compared to a placebo.

The Effect of Beetroot Supplementation on High Intensity Functional Training Performance

“…During high-intensity exercise, fatigue is typically understood to be caused by insufficient energy supply to the working tissue in connection with the accumulation of intramuscular metabolic by-products (Ca 2+ , H + , and Pi) (14). Under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, the ability to offset these issues through increased blood flow has been shown to improve performance (10,15,22). Systemic nitric oxide (NO) levels play an integral role in regulating blood flow and mitochondrial respiration through vasodilation of the smooth muscles in the arterioles and improved oxygen uptake kinetics in favor of aerobic bioenergetics, thus mitigating the onset of fatigue caused by anaerobic metabolism (25).…”

Effects of Mongolian Warm Acupuncture on iNOS/NO and Inflammatory Cytokines in the Hippocampus of Chronic Fatigue Rats

“…Nitric oxide (NO) is an important messenger molecule and effector molecule in the body and is closely related to pathological and physiological processes of the nervous system (Stoyanova and Lazarov, 2005). For example, NO in the hippocampus participates in the learning and memory process as a neurotransmitter (Mosher et al, 2016;Andrade Próspero et al, 2018;Berenyiova et al, 2018). The overtraining syndrome after chronic exhaustive exercise is related to the expression of NO and NO synthase (NOS; Lee et al, 2012).…”

Effects of Natural Nutritional Beverages on Anaerobic Exercise Performance

“…The authors hypothesized that the improvements occurred due to more effective muscle contractions resulting from a reduced energy cost provided by NO3-supplementation (Mosher, et al, 2016).…”

“…power athletes) (Ferguson et al, 2013;Hernández et al, 2012). Several researchers attribute performance improvements to a reduced PCr decline seen with NO3-supplementation, resulting in increased energy availability Bescos et al, 2012;Fulford et al, 2013;Mosher et al, 2016). The evidence on power and force production is not conclusive, and the types of power athletes and powerful movements that could benefit the greatest from NO3-supplementation remain to be determined.…”

“…Subsequent studies have demonstrated improved muscle contractile function during both voluntary and involuntary knee extension exercise Haider & Folland, 2014). These findings, suggesting that dietary NO3-can augment power output as it relates to exercise performance, could have important implications for anaerobic athletes Haider & Folland, 2014;Mosher, Sparks, Williams, Bentley & Mc Naughton, 2016).…”