Effects of acute supplementation of L-arginine and nitrate on endurance and sprint performance in elite athletes.
Nitric Oxide
; 48: 10-5, 2015 Aug 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25445632
ABSTRACT
This study examined the effects of acute supplementation with L-arginine and nitrate on running economy, endurance and sprint performance in endurance-trained athletes. In a randomised cross-over, double-blinded design we compared the effects of combined supplementation with 6 g L-arginine and 614 mg nitrate against 614 mg nitrate alone and placebo in nine male elite cross-country skiers (age 18 ± 0 years, VO2max 69.3 ± 5.8 ml â
min(-1) â
kg(-1)). After a 48-hour standardisation of nutrition and exercise the athletes were tested for plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations, blood pressure, submaximal running economy at 10 km â
h(-1) and 14 km â
h(-1) at 1% incline and 180 m as well as 5-km time-trial running performances. Plasma nitrite concentration following L-arginine + nitrate supplementation (319 ± 54 nmol â
L(-1)) did not differ from nitrate alone (328 ± 107 nmol â
L(-1)), and both were higher than placebo (149 ± 64 nmol â
L(-1), p < 0.01). There were no differences in physiological responses during submaximal running or in 5-km performance between treatments. The plasma nitrite concentrations indicate greater nitric oxide availability both following acute supplementation of L-arginine + nitrate and with nitrate alone compared to placebo, but no additional effect was revealed when L-arginine was added to nitrate. Still, there were no effects of supplementation on exercise economy or endurance running performance in endurance-trained cross-country skiers.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Arginine
/
Athletic Performance
/
Athletes
/
Nitrates
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Nitric Oxide
Journal subject:
BIOQUIMICA
/
QUIMICA
Year:
2015
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Norway