Breathing Training + Nitrate for Exercise Intolerance
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial investigates whether breathing exercises and a special beetroot juice (a dietary supplement) can help individuals manage exercise better in low-oxygen environments, such as high altitudes. The study aims to determine if these methods can ease breathing and enhance workout performance, either independently or combined. It seeks healthy, active participants who can bike until exhaustion and have not smoked in the past six months. Eligible participants could help discover non-medicinal ways to improve endurance in low-oxygen settings. As an unphased trial, this study provides an opportunity to contribute to innovative research exploring natural methods to enhance physical performance.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
Yes, if you are currently using medications or supplements that affect heart, metabolism, or breathing functions, you will need to stop taking them to participate in this trial.
Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?
Research shows that respiratory muscle training (RMT) is generally safe. Studies have found that RMT strengthens breathing muscles and aids exercise. No major safety issues have been reported with this training.
For the nitrate supplement, often given as beetroot juice, studies suggest it can enhance exercise by improving oxygen use. This supplement is usually safe for most people when used correctly.
Both treatments have been studied separately and appear safe. No serious side effects have been reported in the reviewed studies. However, like any treatment, some individuals might experience mild side effects. It's always important to consult a healthcare provider before joining a trial.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?
Researchers are excited about these treatments because they combine Respiratory Muscle Training (RMT) with nitrate supplementation to tackle exercise intolerance in a novel way. Unlike most treatments that focus solely on physical training or dietary supplements, this approach combines a breathing workout using a special handheld device with the benefits of dietary nitrates found in beetroot juice. This combination aims to enhance both breathing muscle strength and vascular function, potentially improving exercise tolerance, even in challenging conditions like high altitudes. By targeting both respiratory and vascular systems simultaneously, this method could offer a more comprehensive solution than current single-focus therapies.
What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving exercise tolerance at moderate altitude?
Research has shown that training the muscles used for breathing, known as respiratory muscle training (RMT), can improve lung function and endurance. For those exercising at high altitudes, RMT can ease breathing and reduce breathlessness. In this trial, some participants will undergo RMT combined with nitrate supplementation using beetroot juice concentrate. Studies indicate that this combination can boost exercise performance by helping the body use oxygen more efficiently. Other participants will receive either RMT with a placebo or sham RMT with nitrate supplementation to isolate the effects of each treatment. Combining RMT with nitrate supplements might enhance these benefits, potentially improving exercise tolerance even more in challenging conditions.12567
Who Is on the Research Team?
Scott K Ferguson, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for healthy adults who can tolerate exercise and are not dependent on a ventilator. It's designed to see if breathing exercises and beetroot juice, which is high in nitrates, can help people do better when they're active in places with less oxygen like high altitudes.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants undergo respiratory muscle training and/or nitrate supplementation for 4-6 weeks
Testing
Participants perform exercise tests on a stationary bicycle at normal and simulated altitude
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in exercise tolerance and physiological responses
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Dietary Supplement: Beetroot Juice Concentrate
- Respiratory Muscle Training (RMT)
Trial Overview
The study tests two main things: respiratory muscle training (RMT) to strengthen breathing muscles, and drinking beetroot juice concentrate for its nitrates. Some participants will get these real treatments while others will receive fake training or a placebo drink without nitrates.
How Is the Trial Designed?
4
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Participants complete a multi-week respiratory muscle training (RMT) program using a handheld breathing device that provides progressive inspiratory and expiratory resistance. Participants also consume a daily standardized dose of beetroot juice concentrate containing dietary nitrate. This combination is expected to enhance breathing muscle strength, vascular function, and exercise tolerance under simulated altitude.
Participants perform sham RMT with a very low resistance load that does not provide a training stimulus, while consuming the active nitrate beverage daily. This group isolates the independent effect of nitrate supplementation on exercise tolerance under hypoxic conditions.
Participants complete sham RMT with minimal breathing resistance and consume a placebo beverage identical in appearance and flavor to the nitrate supplement but containing no active ingredients. This serves as the control condition for comparison with all other intervention groups.
Participants perform the same RMT program as in Arm 1 but consume a placebo beverage that is visually and taste-matched to the nitrate drink but contains no active nitrate. This group allows assessment of the independent effects of respiratory muscle training.
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Lead Sponsor
Citations
Dietary Nitrate Supplementation and Exercise Performance
The steady-state V ˙ O 2 during moderate-intensity exercise was significantly reduced (by approximately 4 %) 2.5 h after beetroot juice intake compared with pre ...
Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Does Not Alter Exercise ...
Introduction: Nitrate supplementation in the form of beetroot juice (BRJ) ingestion has been shown to improve exercise tolerance during acute ...
Factors that Moderate the Effect of Nitrate Ingestion on ...
Indeed, a previous study showed that nitrate-rich beetroot juice may reduce oxygen consumption during exercise by 4% compared with an equivalent dose of sodium ...
Effects of Beetroot Juice on Physical Performance in ...
Results: (1) Beetroot juice significantly improved muscle strength (SMD = 0.08, p < 0.001), but the effect size was negligible. (2) Aerobic Endurance: Beetroot ...
The Effect of Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Juice on Markers ...
Two studies reported that nitrate-rich beetroot juice attenuated muscle pain and expedited the recovery of countermovement (CMJ) performance in ...
Acute effects of various doses of nitrate-rich beetroot juice ...
This study investigated the acute effects of various doses of nitrate-rich beetroot juice on the responses to high-intensity interval exercise in women.
Effects of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Physiological ...
This study suggests that BRJ improves physiological function and exercise performance, but not cognitive function, at simulated moderate and very-high altitude.
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