Nitrate for High Intensity Intermittent Exercise (NITR-ITE)

Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 4

Conditions: High Intensity Intermittent Sports Performance

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-rich concentrated beetroot juice; Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-depleted concentrated red beetroot juice

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02436629

METC 153006

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of the current study is to assess the effect of 6-day dietary nitrate ingestion on high intensity intermittent sports performance in recreational soccer players.

Full description

Oral ingestion of nitrate (NO3-) in the form of both nitrate salts and concentrated red beetroot juice has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure at rest and to improve exercise performance during cycle time trials. Furthermore, a positive exercise performance effect of nitrate ingestion has been observed in recreational athletes during intermittent exercise. However, this was achieved after acute supplementation with a substantial dose of dietary nitrate. Whether similar ergogenic effects of nitrate supplementation can be achieved with a more conventional 6-day nitrate supplementation protocol with a lower daily dose remains to be established. Based on the gaps in current literature, our main goal will be to gain further insight into the effects of a 6-day nitrate supplementation protocol on high intensity intermittent exercise performance in recreational athletes.

Enrollment: 40 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy P
• Players of the first two senior selection teams of a regional soccer club competing at the 3rd KNVB level or higher
• Training ≥2 days a week
• 18-40 years
• Male

Exclusion criteria

• Use of medication
• Injury prohibiting them from performing the exercise protocol effectively
• Smoking
• Currently supplementing diet with nitrate
• Lactose intolerance

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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40 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Nitrate-rich concentrated beetroot juice

Active Comparator group

Description:

Dietary supplement: 800 mg of nitrate in 140 mL of concentrated beetroot juice (Beet-IT)

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-rich concentrated beetroot juice

Nitrate-depleted conc. beetroot juice

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Placebo: 140 mL of nitrate-depleted concentrated red beetroot juice

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-depleted concentrated red beetroot juice