Os efeitos ergogênicos do nitrato em exercícios aeróbicos: uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

Introduction: Nutritional strategies to improve physical performance have been widely used. In this context, nitric oxide (NO) has received attention for its ability to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to working muscles and reduce fatigue during exercise. Objective: To evaluate the effects of nitrate supplementation on the performance of athletes who practice aerobic physical exercise. Methods: This is an integrative review based on scientific clinical studies found in PubMed, published in the last 10 years. Results: Nitrate supplementation, predominantly from beetroot juice, has been shown to improve aerobic performance in short- and medium-duration exercises, reducing race time and increasing time to exhaustion. The ergogenic effects were more evident in recreationally active and moderately trained individuals, while highly trained athletes showed more limited responses. Conclusion: Nitrate supplementation in longer-duration events had less pronounced effects, indicating that the benefit of nitrate is more pronounced in high-intensity, shorter-duration activities in individuals with little or moderate training.