Effects of Acute Nitrate Supplementation and Heat on Cycling Performance

Chew, Zhi Jiang (2017) Effects of Acute Nitrate Supplementation and Heat on Cycling Performance. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

Many studies have confirmed the positive implication of nitrate supplementation in reducing the cost of exercise and aid in improving sport performance. However, study on the effects of nitrate and exercising in heat is still not present. This study aims to investigate whether nitrate supplementation would have an ergogenic benefit to prolonged cycling in heat stress for a period of more than 30 min among trained cyclist. Ten trained-male cyclists (Age, 30.0 ± 4.1 yrs; Weight, 66.7 ± 8.2 kg; Height, 172.5 ± 8.1 cm; VO2max = 60.0 ± 5.9 ml·kg·min-1; Pmax = 302 ± 24.3 W) were recruited for a placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized cross over experimental trials in thermo neutral condition and heat stress. The experimental trials comprised of 30 min of submaximal steady-state exercise at 60% peak Pmax followed immediately with cycling at 80% Pmax until exhaustion. Time to exhaustion was significantly higher in the PLAC trials compared to SN trials in correspondent to heat (p<0.005) and thermoneutral (p<0.001) conditions. Significantly lower overall temperatures were observed between corresponding trials in heat (p<0.05) and thermoneutral (p<0.001) conditions in Tbody but not in Tskin (p>0.05) and Tcore (p>0.05). TCS were significantly higher overall in PLAC trial compared to SN trial in heat conditions (p<0.001) but no significant differences was found in thermoneutral conditions (p>0.05). Overall VO2 were significantly lower in SN trial compared to PLAC trial in thermoneutral conditions (p<0.05). The results indicated that nitrate supplementation improved temperature dissipation and exercise performance in heat conditions