Nitrate Supplementation Combined with a Running Training Program Improved Time-Trial Performance in Recreationally Trained Runners

• Main Authors: Jeferson Santana (Author), Diana Madureira (Author), Elias de França (Author), Fabricio Rossi (Author), Bruno Rodrigues (Author), André Fukushima (Author), François Billaut (Author), Fabio Lira (Author), Erico Caperuto (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2019-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2075-4663; 10.3390/sports7050120
• Keywords: sport nutrition; endurance training; performance; nitrate; Sports; GV557-1198.995
• Source: Sports, Vol 7, Iss 5, p 120 (2019)

Our purpose was to verify the effects of inorganic nitrate combined to a short training program on 10-km running time-trial (TT) performance, maximum and average power on a Wingate test, and lactate concentration ([La⁻]) in recreational runners. Sixteen healthy participants were divided randomly into two groups: Nitrate (<i>n</i> = 8) and placebo (<i>n</i> = 8). The experimental group ingested 750 mg/day (~12 mmol) of nitrate plus 5 g of resistant starch, and the control group ingested 6 g of resistant starch, for 30 days. All variables were assessed at baseline and weekly over 30 days. Training took place 3x/week. The time on a 10-km TT decreased significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.001) in all timepoints compared to baseline in both groups, but only the nitrate group was faster in week 2 compared to 1. There was a significant group × time interaction (<i>p</i> < 0.001) with lower [La] in the nitrate group at week 2 (<i>p</i> = 0.032), week 3 (<i>p</i> = 0.002), and week 4 (<i>p</i> = 0.003). There was a significant group time interaction (<i>p</i> = 0.028) for Wingate average power and a main effect of time for maximum power (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and [La⁻] for the 60-s Wingate test. In conclusion, nitrate ingestion during a four-week running program improved 10-km TT performance and kept blood [La⁻] steady when compared to placebo in recreational runners.