Nitrate Supplementation on Motor Unit Activity

Influence of Nitrate Supplementation on Motor Unit Activity During Recovery Following a Sustained Ischemic Contraction.

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy; Dietary Supplements
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Nitrate supplementation; Dietary supplement: Placebo supplementtaion

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 14
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
    • Northumbria University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

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 Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 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.	Dietary supplement: Nitrate supplementation; 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.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo supplementation; 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; 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northumbria University
• Collaborators: Manchester Metropolitan University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 4, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 3, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 20, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 8, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 15, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 15, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 8, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 5951

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No