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Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements
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Nitrate supplementation and high-intensity performance in competitive cyclists.

Matthew W Hoon1, William G Hopkins, Andrew M Jones

  • 1a School of Exercise and Sports Science, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia.

Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism = Physiologie Appliquee, Nutrition Et Metabolisme
|June 22, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Inorganic nitrate (NO3(-)) supplementation did not enhance high-intensity exercise performance in national-level cyclists. The study found no significant performance benefits, suggesting nitrate may be ineffective for elite athletes in such tasks.

Keywords:
agent ergogèneathleteathlètebeetrootbetteraveergogenic aidnitrite

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Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Nutritional Physiology
  • Exercise Physiology

Background:

  • Inorganic nitrate (NO3(-)) consumption is recognized for improving endurance exercise performance in recreationally trained individuals.
  • The efficacy of nitrate supplementation for high-intensity exercise performance in elite athletes remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of nitrate-rich beetroot juice on high-intensity exercise performance in national-level cyclists.
  • To determine optimal timing and dosage strategies for nitrate supplementation in competitive athletes.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized crossover design involving 26 national-level cyclists performing two 4-minute cycle ergometer time trials.
  • Four conditions were tested: nitrate consumption at 150 min or 75 min pre-exercise, with or without a top-up dose, and a placebo.
  • Statistical analysis used a linear mixed model, accounting for learning effects and athlete fitness, with a smallest important effect of 1.0%.

Main Results:

  • Peak plasma nitrite (NO2(-)) concentration was highest when nitrate was consumed 75 minutes before exercise.
  • Nitrate treatments showed unclear effects on mean power in the first time trial (1.3%, ±1.7%) and possibly harmful effects in the second time trial (-0.3%, ±1.6%) compared to placebo.
  • Differences between nitrate treatments and individual responses were unclear, with observed effects being smaller than in previous studies.

Conclusions:

  • Nitrate supplementation may not effectively enhance high-intensity exercise performance in competitive cyclists under the studied conditions.
  • The findings suggest that nitrate's ergogenic effect might be less pronounced or absent in elite athletes performing intense exercise bouts.
  • Further research is needed to clarify the role of nitrate supplementation in elite athletic performance.