Effects of acute dietary nitrate supplementation on cold-induced vasodilation in healthy males.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD) is a paradoxical rise in blood flow to the digits that occur during prolonged cold exposure. CIVD is thought to occur through active vasodilation and/or sympathetic withdrawal, where nitric oxide (NO) may play a key role in mediating these mechanisms. Beetroot juice (BRJ) is high in dietary nitrate (NO3-) which undergoes sequential reduction to nitrite (NO2-) and subsequently NO. Using a double-blind, randomized, crossover design, we examined the effect of acute BRJ supplementation on the CIVD response in 10 healthy males. METHODS: Participants had a resting blood pressure measurement taken prior to ingesting 140 mL of nitrate-rich BRJ (13 mmol NO3-) or a NO3--free placebo (PLA). After 2 h, participants immersed their hand in neutral water (~ 35 °C) for 10 min of baseline before cold water immersion (~ 8 °C) for 30 min. Laser-Doppler fluxmetry and skin temperature were measured continuously on the digits. RESULTS: Compared to PLA (100 ± 3 mmHg), acute BRJ supplementation significantly reduced mean arterial pressure at -30 min (96 ± 2 mmHg; p = 0.007) and 0 min (94 ± 2 mmHg; p = 0.008). Acute BRJ supplementation had no effect on Laser-Doppler fluxmetry during CIVD (expressed as cutaneous vascular conductance) measured as area under the curve (BRJ 843 ± 148 PU mmHg-1 s; PLA 1086 ± 333 PU mmHg-1 s), amplitude (BRJ 0.60 ± 0.12 PU mmHg-1; PLA 0.69 ± 0.14 PU mmHg-1), and duration (BRJ 895 ± 60 s; PLA 894 ± 46 s). CONCLUSION: Acute BRJ supplementation does not augment the CIVD response in healthy males.