Background: Dietary nitrate is a natural compound found in vegetables such as beetroot and leafy greens. Previous research suggests that consuming nitrate before exercise may improve endurance and physical performance. However, it is still unclear whether higher doses provide greater benefits, particularly in recreationally trained individuals.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether different doses of dietary nitrate taken before exercise influence endurance performance and muscle fatigue during a running test in recreationally trained men.
Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover pilot study compared the effects of a placebo and three different doses of dietary nitrate consumed before exercise. On separate occasions, participants completed the same treadmill running test to exhaustion after ingesting the assigned supplement. Measures of muscle performance, blood lactate concentration, and perceived exertion were collected before and after exercise to evaluate the effects of dietary nitrate supplementation.