Influence of dietary nitrate food forms on nitrate metabolism and blood pressure in healthy normotensive adults.

Inorganic nitrate (NO3-) supplementation has been shown to improve cardiovascular health indices in healthy adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the vehicle of NO3- administration can influence NO3- metabolism and the subsequent blood pressure response. Ten healthy males consumed an acute equimolar dose of NO3- (∼5.76 mmol) in the form of a concentrated beetroot juice drink (BR; 55 mL), a non-concentrated beetroot juice drink (BL; 456 mL) and a solid beetroot flapjack (BF; 60 g). A drink containing soluble beetroot crystals (BC; ∼1.40 mmol NO3-) and a control drink (CON; 70 mL deionised water) were also ingested. BP and plasma, salivary and urinary [NO3-] and [NO2-] were determined before and up to 24 h after ingestion. All NO3--rich vehicles elevated plasma, salivary and urinary nitric oxide metabolites compared with baseline and CON (P<0.05). The peak increases in plasma [NO2-] were greater in BF (371 ± 136 nM) and BR (369 ± 167 nM) compared to BL (283 ± 93 nM; all P<0.05) and BC (232 ± 51 nM). BR, but not BF, BL and BC, reduced systolic (∼5 mmHg) and mean arterial pressure (∼3-4 mmHg; P<0.05), whereas BF reduced diastolic BP (∼4 mmHg; P < 0.05). Although plasma [NO2-] was elevated in all conditions, the consumption of a small, concentrated NO3--rich fluid (BR) was the most effective means of reducing BP. These findings have implications for the use of dietary NO3-supplements when the main objective is to maintain or improve indices of cardiovascular health.

Dancer perceptions of the force reduction of dance floors used by a professional touring ballet company.

The mechanical properties of dance floors have the potential to influence dancers' performance and injury risk. Little information is available that describes dancers' preferences for dance floor mechanical properties. Investigation of dancers' perceptions of varied dance floors can serve to enlighten governing bodies, floor manufacturers, and the dance community. The aim of this study was to assess the perceptions of dancers from a touring professional ballet company regarding four floors with varied force reduction (FR) that were created to replicate those used by the company in normal dance training and performance. A specialized questionnaire was developed that incorporated a series of qualitative and quantitative measures that could be used by participants to express their perceptions of the custom built dance floors. Floor FR was quantified with reference to the protocols specified by European standards. Dancer perceptions were in general agreement with floor FR values; however, some discrepancies were observed. Dancers expressed a preference for floor FR within the mid to upper limits (57% to 72%) of the European standards, although a minority preferred low FR (approximately 36%) floors. A limited ability to perceive inconsistencies in FR across test floors was observed, which may have implications for injury risk. Investigation of the perceptions of dancers from more diverse backgrounds, on floors that provide a closer representation of typical dance studio and stage sizes, over longer periods of time, would provide further insight into the perceptual and adaptive responses of dancers to varied floor mechanical properties.