Exercise Fatiguability in Older Adults: The Protective Effects of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation

Exercise Fatiguability in Older Adults: The Protective Effects of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation

Vascular and skeletal muscle function decline with age and are associated with decreased nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Dietary nitrate supplementation in the form of beet root juice increases NO bioavailability and improves exercise tolerance in younger adults, yet its effects on fatigability in older adults are largely unknown. The proposed research will investigate the impact of increased NO bioavailability on vascular function, skeletal muscle bioenergetics, and fatigability in older (≥65 yrs) men and women.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy men and women ≥ 60 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

1. body mass index ≥40 kg/m2;
2. type 1 or type 2 diabetes or HbA1c >6.5%
3. uncontrolled hypertension;
4. active cancer, cancer in remission, or having received treatment for any form of cancer in the previous five years;
5. coronary artery disease;
6. cardiovascular disease (e.g., PAD, PVD);
7. abnormal and untreated thyroid function;
8. chronic and/or regular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) consumption,
9. tobacco use (includes smoking);
10. any condition that presents a limitation to exercise (e.g., severe arthritis, COPD, neuromuscular disorder, moderate or severe cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's Disease, severe untreated sleep apnea).