NCT05993715

Nitrate Supplementation on Motor Unit Activity

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

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 14 (actual)
• Sponsor: Northumbria University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

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

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
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.
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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-12-04
• Primary completion: 2020-02-03
• Completion: 2020-03-01
• First posted: 2023-08-15
• Last updated: 2023-08-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom