Week 9 - Nitrate (NOT IN EXAM)

Question 1

What does the ingestion of dietary nitrate lead to?

Answer 1

Enhanced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability

Question 2

What is the average dietary intake of adults in western countries?

Answer 2

1-2mmol/d with vegetables providing about 80% of the total

Question 3

What are some high nitrate-containing foods?

Answer 3

leafy greens and root vegetables

Question 4

What does nitric oxide play an important role in?

Answer 4

the modulation of skeletal muscle function

Question 5

What does an increased nitric oxide bio-availability result in?

Answer 5

↑ blood flow to muscle
↑ function of type II fibers
↑ efficiency of mitochondrial respiration
↑ muscle contractile function

Question 6

What are the 3 main mechanisms of action of nitric oxide that improve exercise performance? (check this slide)

Answer 6

1. Increased skeletal muscle 02 delivery
2. Reduced 02 cost of mitochondrial ATP resynthesis (oxidative phosphorylation more efficient)
3. Reduced ATP cost of cross-bridge formation (muscle force production)

Question 7

Describe an acute dose of dietary nitrate.

Answer 7

• 2-3h pre-exercise
• 310-560mg nitrate

Question 8

Describe the chronic supplementation of dietary nitrate.

Answer 8

• 3-15 days pre-event
• 310-560mg nitrate per day + 310-560mg nitrate pre-event

Question 9

When would you consider nitrate supplementation?

Answer 9

 Prolonged submaximal exercise
such as endurance events lasting
4-30 min.

 Training for aerobic fitness.

 High-intensity intermittent events
with short duration and sprint
efforts in individual and team
sports.

 During exposure to hypoxic
conditions (e.g., altitude training)?

Question 10

Individual variability - How does an athletes training status influence nitrate supplementation?

Answer 10

Highly trained endurance athletes do not benefit significantly.

Question 11

Side effects of nitrate supplementation

Answer 11

• Gut discomfort
• Pink colour to urine