Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players

Published on: June 10, 2025

Does Nitrate Supplementation Improve Muscle Strength, Power, and Sprint Performance in Females? A Systematic Review

Fanhao Meng¹, Yuhang Liu², Bopeng Qiu^1,3

¹School of Strength and Conditioning Training, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)

|September 27, 2025

Abstract

Background:

Inorganic nitrate (NO₃^-) may enhance muscle contractility and blood flow via nitric oxide production, offering potential ergogenic benefits. However, most studies have focused on males, and its effects in females during high-intensity, short-duration exercise remain unclear.

Objective:

This review assessed the acute effects of nitrate supplementation on muscle strength, power, and sprint performance in healthy females.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane CENTRAL, from inception to July 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of oral inorganic nitrate (e.g., beetroot juice or nitrate salts) in healthy females were included. Eligible studies involved (i) healthy women aged 18-30, (ii) nitrate supplementation vs. placebo, and (iii) outcome measures of muscle strength (e.g., MVC), power (e.g., countermovement jump height, peak power), or sprint performance (e.g., sprint time or repeated sprint ability). Studies were excluded if they did not report sex-specific results or lacked relevant physical performance outcomes. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for each outcome.

Results:

Nitrate supplementation had small, non-significant effects on muscle strength (SMD = 0.10, 95% CI: -0.10 to 0.30, p > 0.05) and sprint performance (SMD = 0.14, 95% CI: -0.13 to 0.41, p > 0.05). A statistically significant, small-to-moderate improvement was observed in power (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.69, p < 0.05). Sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness of the power result. The certainty of evidence ranged from low to moderate based on the GRADE assessment.

Conclusions:

Inorganic nitrate supplementation may modestly enhance power in healthy females but does not appear to significantly improve muscle strength or sprint performance. These findings highlight the importance of sex-specific research in sports nutrition to guide targeted supplementation strategies for female athletes.

Keywords:

beetroot juice female athletes inorganic nitrate muscle strength power sprint performance

More Related Videos

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Published on: July 29, 2021

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Published on: July 5, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Exercise and Muscle Performance

Exercise and Muscle Performance

Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers

In cardiovascular health, antianginal drugs combat angina pectoris — a condition marked by chest pain owing to diminished blood flow to the heart.
Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow....

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Nitric oxide (NO), an inorganic gas, acts as a potent second messenger in most animal and plant tissues. NO diffuses out of the cells that produce it and enters the neighboring cells to generate a downstream response. NO synthase (NOS) catalyzes NO production by the deamination of the amino acid arginine. There are three isoforms of NOS. Endothelial cells have endothelial NOS (eNOS), nerve and muscle cells have neuronal NOS (nNOS), and macrophages produce inducible NOS (iNOS) upon exposure...

Exercise and Cardiac Output

Exercise and Cardiac Output

Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...

Exercise and Cardiovascular Response

Exercise and Cardiovascular Response

Exercise significantly impacts cardiovascular response, which is crucial for understanding patient health and designing effective treatment plans.
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Vasodilators, primarily affecting the smooth muscles within arterial and venous walls, are commonly used for hypertension treatment. Medications such as minoxidil and hydralazine primarily target arteries and arterioles, while sodium nitroprusside acts on arterioles and venules. Minoxidil, functioning as a prodrug, is metabolized by hepatic sulfotransferase into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, after oral administration. This metabolite binds to the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) component of...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

High-Performance MEMS Gas Sensors Utilizing an N-CQD/NiCo2O4 Composite for H2S Detection and Concentration Regression Prediction.

ACS sensors·2026

Confined high-entropy reconstruction of conductive carbon skeletons for thin and flexible electromagnetic shielding films.

Journal of colloid and interface science·2026

Propionyl-CoA catabolism is a metabolic gatekeeper for fatty acid oxidation in pancreatic cancer.

Oncogene·2026

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel C-28 Chloroacetamide-Modified Ursolic Acid Derivatives as Antibacterial Agents.

Microorganisms·2026

Proposed Allosteric Inhibition of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 by a Proline-Derived Acylsemicarbazide Compound with Antiproliferative Activity in Breast Cancer Cells.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Acute caffeine supplementation in rugby players: a systematic review and meta-analysis of physical performance, sport-specific performance, perceptual responses, and physiological markers.

Frontiers in nutrition·2026

See all related articles