Pilot study in endurance athletes shows increased NO bioavailability alongside controlled redox and inflammatory responses in athletes
A new pilot study published in Nutrients, conducted by researchers from the Italian National Research Council – Institute of Clinical Physiology (CNR-IFC), provides fresh mechanistic insight into how nitrate supplementation affects endurance athletes. At a time when nitrate-based ingredients are increasingly used in sports nutrition, the findings help move the conversation beyond performance claims by showing activation of nitric oxide pathways without evidence of lipids peroxidation – an important consideration for formulators, brands and practitioners evaluating the safety and physiological relevance of nitrate supplementation.
Conducted in a group of amateur male triathletes using a randomized cross-over design, the study found a significant increase in nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in both plasma and urine (approximately +155%) after seven days of supplementation using a formulation developed by Italian company Gensan. At the same time, markers linked to oxidative and inflammatory responses – including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) – also increased. However, no significant changes were observed in markers of oxidative damage, indicating no evidence of oxidative damage despite the rise in redox-related activity.
According to the study authors, these changes are consistent with a physiological activation of signalling pathways rather than a harmful oxidative response. “These findings suggest that nitrate supplementation may enhance nitric oxide bioavailability while maintaining oxidative balance,” said Dr. Simona Mrakic-Sposta, joint first and corresponding author of the study. “Although increases in reactive oxygen species and inflammatory markers are often interpreted as negative, in this context they appear to reflect a controlled physiological response. The absence of increased lipid peroxidation supports the interpretation that this activation does not translate into oxidative damage.”
The study was conducted using a beetroot-based nitrate supplement developed by Italian company Gensan, combining nitrate sources with nitric oxide precursors and supportive compounds. While the findings provide a more integrated view of nitric oxide metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation, the authors note that the study was exploratory in nature, with a small sample size and no direct performance outcomes measured. Further research in larger cohorts will be needed to confirm the practical implications of these findings.
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