Effectiveness of Nitrate Intake on Recovery from Exercise-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Review

José M Gamonales; Daniel Rojas-Valverde; Jesús Muñoz-Jiménez; Walter Serrano-Moreno; Sergio J Ibáñez

doi:10.3390/ijerph191912021

Effectiveness of Nitrate Intake on Recovery from Exercise-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Review

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 23;19(19):12021. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191912021.

Authors

José M Gamonales^{1

2}, Daniel Rojas-Valverde^{3

4}, Jesús Muñoz-Jiménez¹, Walter Serrano-Moreno⁵, Sergio J Ibáñez¹

Affiliations

¹ Research Group in Optimization of Training and Sports Performance (GOERD), University of Extremadura, Av. De la Universidad, s/n, 10003 Cáceres, Spain.
² Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.
³ Núcleo de Estudios Para el Alto Rendimiento y la Salud (NARS-CIDISAD), Escuela Ciencia del Movimiento Humano y Calidad de Vida (CIEMHCAVI), Universidad Nacional, Heredia 863000, Costa Rica.
⁴ Clínica de Lesiones Deportivas (Rehab&Readapt), Escuela Ciencia del Movimiento Humano y Calidad de Vida (CIEMHCAVI), Universidad Nacional, Heredia 863000, Costa Rica.
⁵ Posgrado en Ciencias Médicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Colima, Colima 28040, Mexico.

Abstract

Background: Recovery between efforts is critical to achieving optimal physical and sports performance. In this sense, many nutritional supplements that have been proven to improve recovery and physical and physiological performance are widely used. Supplements such as nitrates (NO₃^-), including organic foods such as beets, promote muscle recovery and relieve fatigue. This study aimed to comprehensively summarise the available literature on the effect of NO₃^- consumption on exercise-related fatigue and muscle damage.

Methods: A systematic search was carried out based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) using electronic databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). From a total of 1634 studies identified, 15 studies were included in this review.

Results: Based on the review, NO₃^- intake provokes physiological and metabolic responses that could potentially boost exercise-related recovery. NO₃^- could improve recovery indicators related to strength, pain, inflammation, and muscle damage.

Conclusions: Despite the relative proven effectiveness of NO₃^- on recovery after aerobic and anaerobic efforts, based on the heterogeneity of the procedures (e.g., dosage, chronic vs. acute intake, participants' characteristics, variables and outcomes), it could be premature to suggest its extended use in sports.

Keywords: anaerobic; beetroot; performance; supplement; training.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Athletic Performance
Dietary Supplements
Exercise* / physiology
Humans
Muscle Fatigue* / drug effects
Nitrates* / administration & dosage
Nitrates* / pharmacology

Substances

Nitrates

Grants and funding

The research was partially funded by the GOERD of University of Extremadura and the Research Vice-rectory of Universidad Nacional. This work has been partially supported by the funding for research groups (GR21149) granted by the Government of Extremadura (Employment and infrastructure office—Consejería de Empleo e Infraestructuras), with the contribution of the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) by the Group for the Optimisation of Training and Sports Performance (GOERD) of the Faculty of Sports Sciences of the University of Extremadura. In addition, the author José M. Gamonales was supported by a grant from the Requalification Program of the Spanish University System, Field of Knowledge: Biomedical (MS-18).