Effects of sodium nitrite supplementation on exercise capacity in middle-aged and older healthy adults (LB689)

Declines in exercise capacity with aging are associated with increased risk of disability and mortality. Dietary interventions that increase circulating nitrite may improve exercise capacity. We performed a pilot study to assess the effects of chronic oral sodium nitrite supplementation (NS) on incremental treadmill exercise performance (modified Balke protocol) in sedentary and recreationally-active middle-aged and older (MA/O) healthy adults (n=26, 62±2 yrs). Subjects abstained from dosing for >12 hr before exercise. NS increased plasma nitrite and nitrate (p<0.01). Peak exercise respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), markers of voluntary effort, did not differ pre-post treatment in any group after 10 weeks of NS (80 or 160 mg/d capsules, TheraVasc, Inc., randomized, placebo-control, double-blind). NS did not influence maximal oxygen consumption (VO2) (Pl: -0.55 ± 2.01; 80mg: 0.41 ± 1.69; 160mg: -0.11 ± 1.19 ml/kg/min, p=0.63), although there was a tre...