Effects of dietary nitrate, caffeine, and their combination on 20-km cycling time trial performance.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the acute effects of caffeine supplementation on 20-km cycling time trial performance, both alone and in combination with dietary nitrate.
Results Summary
Caffeine significantly improved power output, heart rate, blood lactate levels, and respiratory exchange ratio compared to placebo, but showed no additional benefits when combined with dietary nitrate. No significant effects were observed on cycling cadence, perceived exertion, or electromyographic activity.
Population
14 competitive female cyclists (age 31 ± 7 years).
Effective Dosage
5 mg·kg of caffeine, consumed one hour before the trial.
Duration
Acute (single-dose intervention).
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
caffeine | increase | power output | 14 competitive female cyclists | 205 ± 21 W vs. 194 ± 25 W (placebo) | higher power outputs | #1 |
dietary nitrate | no change | power output | 14 competitive female cyclists | 194 ± 22 W vs. 194 ± 25 W (placebo) | no effect | #2 |
caffeine | increase | heart rate | 14 competitive female cyclists | 166 ± 12 b·min vs. 159 ± 15 b·min (placebo) | significantly higher measures | #3 |
caffeine | increase | blood lactate | 14 competitive female cyclists | 6.54 ± 2.40 mmol·L vs. 4.50 ± 2.11 mmol·L (placebo) | significantly higher measures | #4 |
caffeine | increase | respiratory exchange ratio | 14 competitive female cyclists | 0.95 ± 0.04 vs. 0.91 ± 0.05 (placebo) | significantly higher measures | #5 |
supplementation (caffeine, nitrate, combination) | no change | cycling cadence | 14 competitive female cyclists | - | no effects | #6 |
supplementation (caffeine, nitrate, combination) | no change | rating of perceived exertion | 14 competitive female cyclists | - | no effects | #7 |
supplementation (caffeine, nitrate, combination) | no change | integrated electromyographic activity | 14 competitive female cyclists | - | no effects | #8 |
caffeine supplementation | increase | endurance performance | - | - | beneficial effects | #9 |
acute supplementation with dietary nitrate | no change | endurance performance | - | - | seems to have no effect | #10 |
dietary nitrate | no change | endurance performance | - | - | adds nothing to the benefits | #11 |
The aim of this study was to examine the acute supplementation effects of dietary nitrate, caffeine, and their combination on 20-km cycling time trial performance. Using a randomized, counterbalanced, double-blind Latin-square design, 14 competitive female cyclists (age: 31 ± 7 years; height: 1.69 ± 0.07 m; body mass: 61.6 ± 6.0 kg) completed four 20-km time trials on a racing bicycle fitted to a turbo trainer. Approximately 2.5 hours before each trial, subjects consumed a 70-ml dose of concentrated beetroot juice containing either 0.45 g of dietary nitrate or with the nitrate content removed (placebo). One hour before each trial, subjects consumed a capsule containing either 5 mg·kg of caffeine or maltodextrin (placebo). There was a significant effect of supplementation on power output (p = 0.001), with post hoc tests revealing higher power outputs in caffeine (205 ± 21 W) vs. nitrate (194 ± 22 W) and placebo (194 ± 25 W) trials only. Caffeine-induced improvements in power output corresponded with significantly higher measures of heart rate (caffeine: 166 ± 12 b·min vs. placebo: 159 ± 15 b·min; p = 0.02), blood lactate (caffeine: 6.54 ± 2.40 mmol·L vs. placebo: 4.50 ± 2.11 mmol·L; p < 0.001), and respiratory exchange ratio (caffeine: 0.95 ± 0.04 vs. placebo: 0.91 ± 0.05; p = 0.03). There were no effects (p ≥ 0.05) of supplementation on cycling cadence, rating of perceived exertion, (Equation is included in full-text article.), or integrated electromyographic activity. The results of this study support the well-established beneficial effects of caffeine supplementation on endurance performance. In contrast, acute supplementation with dietary nitrate seems to have no effect on endurance performance and adds nothing to the benefits afforded by caffeine supplementation.