High-Dose Nitrate Supplementation Attenuates the Increased Blood Pressure Responses to Isometric Blood Flow Restriction Exercise in Healthy Males

Ozcan Esen; Ladislav Cepicka; Tomasz Gabrys; Raci Karayigit

doi:10.3390/nu14173645

High-Dose Nitrate Supplementation Attenuates the Increased Blood Pressure Responses to Isometric Blood Flow Restriction Exercise in Healthy Males

Nutrients. 2022 Sep 3;14(17):3645. doi: 10.3390/nu14173645.

Authors

Ozcan Esen¹, Ladislav Cepicka², Tomasz Gabrys², Raci Karayigit³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK.
² Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education, University of West Bohemia, 30100 Pilsen, Czech Republic.
³ Department of Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara 06830, Turkey.

Abstract

The effect of nitrate (NO3−) supplementation on blood pressure (BP) responses during large muscle mass isometric and ischaemic exercise in healthy young adults is unclear. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 5-day supplementation of NO3− on BP responses during a short isometric contraction and a sustained ischaemic contraction. In a randomised, double-blinded, crossover design, 14 healthy active young adults underwent BP measurements after 5 days of either NO3− (NIT) or placebo (PLA) supplementation. Beat-by-beat BP was measured at pre- and post-exercise rest, and during a short (20 s) isometric contraction at 25% maximal strength and throughout a sustained ischaemic contraction. Plasma nitrite (NO2−) concentration increased significantly after NO3− supplementation compared to placebo (475 ± 93 nmol·L−1 vs. 198 ± 46 nmol·L−1, p < 0.001, d = 3.37). Systolic BP was significantly lower at pre- (p = 0.051) and post-exercise rest (p = 0.006), during a short isometric contraction (p = 0.030), and throughout a sustained ischaemic contraction (p = 0.040) after NO3− supplementation. Mean arterial pressure was significantly lower at pre- (p = 0.004) and post-exercise rest (p = 0.043), during a short isometric contraction (p = 0.041), and throughout a sustained ischaemic contraction (p = 0.021) after NO3− supplementation. Diastolic BP was lower at pre-exercise rest (p = 0.032), but not at post-exercise rest, during a short isometric contraction, and during a sustained ischaemic contraction (all p > 0.05). Five days of NO3− supplementation elevated plasma NO2− concentration and reduced BP during a short isometric contraction and a sustained ischaemic contraction in healthy adults. These observations indicate that multiple-day nitrate supplementation can decrease BP at rest and attenuate the increased BP response during isometric exercise. These findings support that NO3− supplementation is an effective nutritional intervention in reducing SBP and MAP in healthy young males during submaximal exercise.

Keywords: cardiovascular health; functional food; nitric oxide; nutrition; supplements.

MeSH terms

Blood Flow Restriction Therapy*
Blood Pressure
Dietary Supplements
Humans
Male
Nitrates*
Nitrogen Dioxide / pharmacology
Nitrogen Oxides
Young Adult

Substances

Nitrates
Nitrogen Oxides
Nitrogen Dioxide

Grants and funding

Published with the financial support of the European Union, as part of the project entitled Development of capacities and environment for boosting the international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary cooperation At UWB, project reg. no.CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/18_054/0014627.