Nitrate Supplementation on Motor Unit Activity

NCT05993715 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 5951
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 14
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Dietary Supplements; Healthy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Plasma Nitrite Level

  concentration \[nmol\]

  Pre-exercise

• Motor Unit Activity

  Duration (ms), area (uV.ms), firing rate (Hz)

  Pre-exercise, post-exercise, recovery (45 s)

Study Arms (2)

Nitrate supplementation

EXPERIMENTAL

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.

Dietary Supplement: Nitrate supplementation

Placebo supplementation

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

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.

Dietary Supplement: Placebo supplementtaion

Interventions

Nitrate supplementation DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants ingested 2 × 70 mL/day shots of concentrate nitrate-rich (\~12.8 mmol/day nitrate) or nitrate-depleted (\~0.08 mmol/day nitrite) beetroot juice (Beet It, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK). 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.

Nitrate supplementation

Placebo supplementtaion DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

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.

Placebo supplementation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northumbria University: lead
• Manchester Metropolitan University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Esen O, Bailey SJ, Stashuk DW, Howatson G, Goodall S. Influence of nitrate supplementation on motor unit activity during recovery following a sustained ischemic contraction in recreationally active young males. Eur J Nutr. 2024 Sep;63(6):2379-2387. doi: 10.1007/s00394-024-03440-9. Epub 2024 May 29.

  PMID: 38809323 DERIVED

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: Supplements were allocated in a randomised order and double-blind design by an independent technician who had no further involvement in this study. The randomization and blinding were held until the end of the study.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 20, 2023
• First Posted: August 15, 2023
• Study Start: December 4, 2019
• Primary Completion: February 3, 2020
• Study Completion: March 1, 2020
• Last Updated: August 15, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)