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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Oliver Shannon
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Introduction Dietary inorganic nitrate is a popular nutritional supplement, which increases nitric oxide bioavailability and may improve exercise performance. Despite over a decade of research into the effects of dietary nitrate supplementation during exercise there is currently no expert consensus on how, when and for whom this compound could be recommended as an ergogenic aid. Moreover, there is no consensus on the safe administration of dietary nitrate as an ergogenic aid. This study aimed to address these research gaps. Methods The modified Delphi technique was used to establish the views of 12 expert panel members on the use of dietary nitrate as an ergogenic aid. Over three iterative rounds (two via questionnaire and one via videoconferencing), the expert panel members voted on 222 statements relating to dietary nitrate as an ergogenic aid. Consensus was reached when > 80% of the panel provided the same answer (i.e., yes or no). Statements for which > 80% of the panel cast a vote of insufficient evidence were categorised as such and removed from further voting. These statements were subsequently used to identify directions for future research. Results The 12 panel members contributed to voting in all three rounds. A total of 39 (17.6%) statements reached consensus across the three rounds (20 yes, 19 no). In round one, 21 statements reached consensus (11 yes, 10 no). In round two, seven further statements reached consensus (4 yes, 3 no). In round three, an additional 11 statements reached consensus (5 yes, 6 no). The panel agreed that there was insufficient evidence for 134 (60%) of the statements, and were unable to agree on the outcome of the remaining statements. Discussion This study provides information on the current expert consensus on dietary nitrate, which may be of value to athletes, coaches, practitioners and researchers. The effects of dietary nitrate appear to be diminished in individuals with a higher aerobic fitness (VĖO2peak > 60 ml/kg/min) and therefore aerobic fitness should be taken into account when considering use of dietary nitrate as an ergogenic aid. It is recommended that athletes looking to benefit from dietary nitrate supplementation should consume 8â16 mmol nitrate acutely or 4â16 mmol/d nitrate chronically (with the final dose ingested 2â4 hours pre-exercise) to maximise ergogenic effects, taking into consideration that, from a safety perspective, athletes may be best advised to increase their intake of nitrate via vegetables and vegetable juices. Acute nitrate supplementation up to ~ 16 mmol is believed to be safe, although the safety of chronic nitrate supplementation requires further investigation. The expert panel agreed that there was insufficient evidence for most of the appraised statements, highlighting the need for future research in this area.
Author(s): Shannon OM, Allen JD, Bescos R, Burke L, Clifford T, Easton C, Gonzalez JT, Jones AM, Jonvik KL, Larsen FJ, Peeling P, Piknova B, Siervo M, Vanhatalo A, McGawley K, Porcelli S
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Sports Medicine
Year: 2022
Volume: 52
Pages: 2537-2558
Print publication date: 01/10/2022
Online publication date: 23/05/2022
Acceptance date: 01/05/2022
Date deposited: 25/05/2022
ISSN (print): 0112-1642
ISSN (electronic): 1179-2035
Publisher: Springer Nature
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01701-3
DOI: 10.1007/s40279-022-01701-3
PubMed id: 35604567
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