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EFFECTS OF ACUTE DIETARY NITRATE CONSUMPTION ON RUNNING PERFORMANCE ASSESSED IN ‘REAL-WORLD’ ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Andrew J. Sheets & Brian S. Snyder,Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri

Dietary nitrate supplementation has been shown to lower the oxygen cost of exercise and improve exercise performance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if dietary nitrate supplementation in the form of beetroot juice ‘shots’ improved 5 kilometer race performance in an ecologically valid race-like setting. METHODS: 11 male and 2 female runners ran two 5k races, two weeks apart in a double blind, crossover design in which they drank 2 x 70 mL ‘shots’ of concentrated beetroot (~8 mmol Nitrate) juice or a nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo 2.5 hours before each race. RESULTS: Beetroot juice consumption resulted in a significantly slower 5k race performance (1371+/-253 s vs. 1350+/-249 s, P=.042). There was no significant difference between the kilometer split times. CONCLUSION: Our study found acute dietary nitrate consumption in the form of beetroot juice resulted in a significantly slower 5k race performance.

Funding provided by Truman State University’s Truscholars Undergraduate Research Program

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