27th Annual Student Research Conference
Effects of Acute Dietary Nitrate Consumption on Running Performance Assessed in 'Real-World' Environment
Andrew J. Sheets
Dr. Brian Snyder, Faculty Mentor
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.
Keywords: BEETS, NITRATE, exercise, running
Topic(s):Exercise Science
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 8-4
Location: GEO - SUB
Time: 3:30