Effects of acute supplementation of L-arginine and nitrate on endurance and sprint performance in elite athletes

Abstract

This study examined the effects of acute supplementation with L-arginine and nitrate on running economy, endurance and sprint performance in endurance-trained athletes. In a randomised cross-over, double-blinded design we compared the effects of combined supplementation with 6 g L-arginine and 614 mg nitrate against 614 mg nitrate alone and placebo in nine male elite cross-country skiers (age 18 ± 0 years, VO2max 69.3 ± 5.8 ml ⋅ min(-1) ⋅ kg(-1)). After a 48-hour standardisation of nutrition and exercise the athletes were tested for plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations, blood pressure, submaximal running economy at 10 km ⋅ h(-1) and 14 km ⋅ h(-1) at 1% incline and 180 m as well as 5-km time-trial running performances. Plasma nitrite concentration following L-arginine + nitrate supplementation (319 ± 54 nmol ⋅ L(-1)) did not differ from nitrate alone (328 ± 107 nmol ⋅ L(-1)), and both were higher than placebo (149 ± 64 nmol ⋅ L(-1), p < 0.01). There were no differences in physiological responses during submaximal running or in 5-km performance between treatments. The plasma nitrite concentrations indicate greater nitric oxide availability both following acute supplementation of L-arginine + nitrate and with nitrate alone compared to placebo, but no additional effect was revealed when L-arginine was added to nitrate. Still, there were no effects of supplementation on exercise economy or endurance running performance in endurance-trained cross-country skiers.

Dietary nitrate supplementation improves sprint and high-intensity intermittent running performance

“…2014) and maximal power of inertial-load cycling (Coggan et al 2015) following NO 3 -supplementation, it might be anticipated that any ergogenic effect might be accentuated during the initial phase of all-out sprinting. Indeed, our findings indicate that the greatest improvement in sprint performance (2.3%) occurred over the initial 5 m. Moreover, BR continued to enhance speed between 5 m and 10 m. Together with previous observations of improved sprint performance (Rimer et al 2015;Thompson et al 2015;Sandbakk et al 2015), these findings strengthen the evidence base for using NO 3 -as a nutritional aid to enhance aspects of sprint running performance.…”

“…Although previous studies have reported improved maximal sprint cycling performance (Rimer et al 2015;Thompson et al 2015) and 180 m sprint running performance (Sandbakk et al 2015) after NO 3 -supplementation, our study is the first to demonstrate that NO 3 -supplementation can improve performance during 5, 10 and 20 m sprint running by ~1-2%.…”

“…Human studies suggest that NO 3 -supplementation can increase evoked explosive force production (Haider and Folland. 2014) and maximal voluntary power production (Coggan et al 2015) in the knee extensors, 4 and can increase maximal sprint cycling power output (Rimer et al 2015) and 180 m sprint running performance (Sandbakk et al, 2015). However, while these findings suggest that NO 3 -supplementation has the potential to improve sprinting performance, the effects of NO 3 -supplementation on sprint running performance over short distances that reflect those exhibited during team sports match-play (10-20 m; Spencer et al 2004;) have yet to be investigated.…”

Dietary nitrate supplementation enhances short but not longer duration running time-trial performance

“…In contrast, limited effects of NO 3 − supplementation have been reported for similar duration exercise tests in individuals with a greater training status (i.e. well-trained and elite athletes) (VO 2max >70 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 ) (Peacock et al 2012;Bescós et al 2012;Christensen et al 2013;Porcelli et al 2014;Sandbakk et al 2015). These highly trained athletes manifest a host of different characteristics likely to diminish their responsiveness to NO 3 − supplementation (for review, see Jones 2014), including elevated endogenous NO 3 − and NO 2 − reserves (Vassalle et al 2003).…”

A critical examination of the ergogenic/therapeutic effects of supplementation to increase nitric oxide bioavailability

“…In contrast, Sandbakk et al [6] gave nitrate, nitrate plus L-arginine, or placebo to elite cross-country skiers. They found similar increases in plasma nitrite for both treatment groups, but no differences in sprint and endurance running performance.…”