The Effect of Nitrate Supplementation on Exercise Tolerance and Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Van De Walle, GP and Vukovich, MD. The effect of nitrate supplementation on exercise tolerance and performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1796–1808, 2018—The purpose of this article was to systematically review the current literature and evaluate the overall efficacy of nitrate supplementation on exercise tolerance and performance by meta-analysis. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: (a) were an experimental trial published in an English peer-reviewed journal; (b) compared the effects of inorganic nitrate consumption with a non-bioactive supplement control or placebo; (c) used a quantifiable measure of exercise performance; and (d) was carried out in apparently healthy participants without disease. A total of 29 studies were identified that investigated the effects of nitrate supplementation on exercise tolerance or performance in accordance with the criteria outlined. Analysis using time to exhaustion as the outcome variable revealed a significant effect of nitrate supplementation on exercise tolerance (ES = 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08–0.47; p = 0.006) compared with placebo. Analysis using time to complete a specific distance as the outcome variable revealed no significant effect of nitrate supplementation on exercise performance (ES = −0.05; 95% CI: −0.28 to 0.17; p = 0.64) compared with placebo. Nitrate supplementation is likely to improve exercise tolerance and capacity that...

Source: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research - May 23, 2018 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Original Research Source Type: research