(P28-001-20) Effect of Dietary Nitrate and Anthocyanins on Anaerobic Exercise in Untrained Individuals

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dietary nitrate and anthocyanins on exercise performance in healthy untrained individuals

Methods: In a randomized double-blind crossover study, six men (mean age 24.3 y) and 23 women (mean age 24.1 y) were randomly assigned to Treatment A (5.05g beetroot powder + placebo /d) or Treatment B (5.05g beetroot powder + 480 mg tart cherry / d) for seven days. Each treatment was followed by a seven-day washout after which subjects switched treatments. At the end of each treatment period, subjects performed a modified Wingate Anaerobic Test on a Monark 928E bike. Data on speed (RPM), power (watts), and heart rate were collected and analyzed using linear mixed models adjusted for baseline subject characteristics, treatment sequence (A-B, B-A), energy (kcal), and sleep (hours).

Results: Average heart rate during the first five seconds of the cycling sprint was significantly lower after treatment A than after treatment B (-1.6 to 2.7 BPM, p < 0.05). Participants pedaled five meters further after treatment B compared to treatment A (p = 0.25). No significant differences were observed between treatments on RPM and blood pressure.

Conclusions: Supplementation with beetroot and tart cherry powder for seven days may improve anaerobic exercise performance by maximizing potential heart rate and energy output in untrained individuals.

Funding Sources: The study was sponsored by the School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University.