The physical capacity of athletes is an important element of
success in sports achievements. It involves a huge number of different
capacities, with aerobic capacity being its major component. Aerobic capacity
is one of the keys to endurance, optimal performance and training. Maximal
oxygen uptake (VO2 max) refers to the intensity of aerobic processes and
actually represents the capacity of the organism to utilize at a certain moment
the maximum amount of oxygen. Maximal oxygen uptake has been regarded as the
best indicator of the aerobic capacity of the organism, i.e. the functional
capacities of cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as the capacity
of tissues to utilize oxygen [1].
Athletes often fall short of oxygen capacity or utilization
due to minimal oxygen uptake owing to the intense activity of the sport or
training and the environment. Increasing the VO2 max increases better oxygen
uptake and utilization and thus resulting in better endurance, performance, and
training. Dietary nitrate is a well-known vasodilator that increases oxygen
uptake and utilization and has many positive physiological benefits.
Our Formulation
Unived’s Elite Beet-420™ is a Beetroot Extract (6.5g of
which 420mg pure dietary nitrate) standardized to 6.5% dietary nitrates.
Mode of Action:
Upon consumption, Dietary Nitrates get converted to Nitrites
by the anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity by the action of nitrate reduction
enzymes. Nitrite is further converted to the bioactive form - Nitric Oxide (NO)
in the stomach which results in Vasodilation.
Nitric Oxide induces several beneficial physiological
mechanisms that influence Oxygen utilization during the contraction of skeletal
muscle.
Nitric Oxide results in Vasodilation of blood vessels which
in turn results in,
- Increased oxygen uptake.
- Increased utilization (VO2 max).
- Improved blood circulation.
- Improve mitochondrial efficiency.
- Reduces blood pressure.
- Promotes glucose uptake.
- Enhance muscle contraction and relaxation.
Nitric Oxide has an important role in the adaptation
processes under hypoxic conditions, the vasodilatory effects of NO may favor
oxygen delivery, and supplementation with beetroot juice could be effective in
reducing the ergolytic effects of hypoxia in cardiorespiratory endurance [2].
References:
1. Rankovic G, Mutavdzic V, Toskic D, Preljevic A, Kocic M,
Nedin Rankovic G, Damjanovic N. Aerobic capacity as an indicator in different
kinds of sports. Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2010 Feb;10(1):44-8. doi:
10.17305/bjbms.2010.2734. PMID: 20192930; PMCID: PMC5596610.
2. Jones AM. Dietary nitrate supplementation and exercise
performance. Sports Med. 2014 May;44 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S35-45. doi:
10.1007/s40279-014-0149-y. PMID: 24791915; PMCID: PMC4008816.
3. Mills, Charlotte Elizabeth, et al. "It is rocket
science–why dietary nitrate is hard to ‘beet’! Part II: further mechanisms and
therapeutic potential of the nitrate‐nitrite‐NO pathway." British journal
of clinical pharmacology 83.1 (2017): 140-151.
4. Kocoloski GM, Crecelius AR. Effects of Single-Dose
Dietary Nitrate on Oxygen Consumption During and After Maximal and Submaximal
Exercise in Healthy Humans: A Pilot Study. Int J Exerc Sci. 2018 May
1;11(3):214-225. PMID: 29795728; PMCID: PMC5955288.
5. Radak Z, Zhao Z, Koltai E, Ohno H, Atalay M. Oxygen
consumption and usage during physical exercise: the balance between oxidative
stress and ROS-dependent adaptive signaling. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2013 Apr
1;18(10):1208-46. doi: 10.1089/ars.2011.4498. Epub 2012 Nov 16. PMID: 22978553;
PMCID: PMC3579386.
