Dietary nitrate supplementation does not improve cycling time-trial performance in the heat.

ABSTRACT

This investigation examined the effect of beetroot juice (BR) supplementation, a source of dietary nitrate (NO3-), on cycling time-trial (TT) performance and thermoregulation in the heat. In a double-blind, repeated-measures design, 12 male cyclists (age 26.6 ± 4.4 years, VO2peak 65.8 ± 5.5 mL.kg-1.min-1) completed four cycling TTs (14 kJ.kg-1) in hot (35°C, 48% relative humidity) and euthermic (21°C, 52%) conditions, following 3 days supplementation with BR (6.5 mmol NO3- for 2 days and 13 mmol NO3- on the final day), or NO3-depleted placebo (PLA). Salivary NO3- and nitrite, core (Tc) and mean skin temperature (Tsk) were measured. Salivary NO3- and nitrite increased significantly post-BR supplementation (p < 0.001). Average TT completion time (mmss) in hot conditions was 5650 ± 0508 with BR, compared with 5830 ± 0448 with PLA (p = 0.178). In euthermic conditions, average completion time was 5309 ± 0435 with BR, compared with 5401 ± 0405 with PLA (p = 0.380). The TT performance decreased (p < 0.001), and Tc (p < 0.001) and Tsk (p < 0.001) were higher in hot compared with euthermic conditions. In summary, BR supplementation has no significant effect on cycling TT performance in the heat.