Effects of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Performance during Single and Repeated Bouts of Short-Duration High-Intensity Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

• Main Authors: Nehal S. Alsharif (Author), Tom Clifford (Author), Abrar Alhebshi (Author), Samantha N. Rowland (Author), Stephen J. Bailey (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Inorganic nitrate (NO₃⁻) has emerged as a potential ergogenic aid over the last couple of decades. While recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses have suggested some small positive effects of NO₃⁻ supplementation on performance across a range of exercise tasks, the effect of NO₃⁻ supplementation on performance during single and repeated bouts of short-duration, high-intensity exercise is unclear. This review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to January 2023. A paired analysis model for cross-over trials was incorporated to perform a random effects meta-analysis for each performance outcome and to generate standardized mean differences (SMD) between the NO₃⁻ and placebo supplementation conditions. The systematic review and meta-analysis included 27 and 23 studies, respectively. Time to reach peak power (SMD: 0.75, <i>p</i> = 0.02), mean power output (SMD: 0.20, <i>p</i> = 0.02), and total distance covered in the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (SMD: 0.17, <i>p</i> < 0.0001) were all improved after NO₃⁻ supplementation. Dietary NO₃⁻ supplementation had small positive effects on some performance outcomes during single and repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise. Therefore, athletes competing in sports requiring single or repeated bouts of high-intensity exercise may benefit from NO₃⁻ supplementation.

Item Description

10.3390/antiox12061194
2076-3921