Nitrate Supplementation on Motor Unit Activity

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Healthy; Dietary Supplements
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Nitrate supplementation; Dietary Supplement: Placebo supplementtaion

• Registration Number: NCT05993715
• Lead Sponsor: Northumbria University

Brief Summary

This study aimed to assess if nitrate supplementation influence motor unit (MU) activity following a sustained ischemic contraction and whether this is affected by blood flow restriction (BFR) during the recovery period. Fourteen male participants (mean ± SD, 25 ± 6 years) completed two experimental trials following 5-days of supplementation with either nitrate-rich (NIT) or nitrate-depleted (PLA) beetroot juice in a randomized, double-blinded, cross-over design. Intramuscular electromyography was used to assess MU potential (MUP) size and firing rates (MUFR) during a submaximal (25% MVC) sustained isometric contraction with BFR. These variables were also assessed during a 90 s recovery period with the first half completed with, and the second half completed without, BFR. Nitrate supplementation can expedite the recovery of MUP duration following a sustained ischemic contraction in healthy adults. These novel observations improve understanding of the effects of nitrate on the recovery of neuromuscular function post-exercise and might have implications for recovery of muscle contractile function.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-12-04
• Primary Completion: 2020-02-03
• Study Completion: 2020-03-01
• Study First Submitted: 2023-06-20
• Status Verified: 2023-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-08-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-08-08
• Study First Posted: 2023-08-15
• Last Update Posted: 2023-08-15

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 14

Inclusion Criteria

• Male between 18 - 30 years
• free from known respiratory insufficiency, cardiovascular disease and neuro-musculo-skeletal problems at present or in the preceding 6 months.
• having at least 5 years competitively (team) sport experience.

Exclusion Criteria

• having cardiovascular disease, neuromuscular disease and any lower limb injury and treatment for chronic respiratory complaints.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Nitrate supplementation	Nitrate supplementation	2 × 70 mL/day shots of concentrate nitrae-rich (\~12.8 mmol/day NO3-) beetroot juice. Two shots were supplemented for 5 days; one each morning (\~9 am) and one each evening (\~9 pm) except for the day of the experimental trial when both shots were taken together 2.5 h before the experimental trial.
Placebo supplementation	Placebo supplementtaion	2 × 70 mL/day shots of concentrate nitrate-depleted (\~0.08 mmol/day NO3-) beetroot juice. Two shots were supplemented for 5 days; one each morning (\~9 am) and one each evening (\~9 pm) except for the day of the experimental trial when both shots were taken together 2.5 h before the experimental trial.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Motor Unit Activity	Pre-exercise, post-exercise, recovery (45 s)	Duration (ms), area (uV.ms), firing rate (Hz)
Plasma Nitrite Level	Pre-exercise	concentration \[nmol\]

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Northumbria University; 🇬🇧 Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom