Effects of Exercise Training Intensity and Inorganic Nitrate Supplementation on Vascular Health and Fitness in Post-Menopausal Females

Summary

Menopause greatly increases cardiovascular disease risk (CVD). Current exercise guidelines are inadequate to ameliorate this risk and higher intensity exercise may be necessary for cardiovascular benefits in postmenopausal females. Oral nitrate supplementation enhances exercise performance and CVD risk profile in several clinical conditions. The investigators recently reported that 3-days of nitrate supplementation in postmenopausal females enhances acute post-exercise vascular function, in an intensity dependent manner. The effects of nitrate supplementation and exercise training over a longer training program remains unexplored. This investigation will examine the impact of exercise training intensity with and without inorganic nitrate supplementation, on CVD and fitness outcomes. Postmenopausal females will be tested for maximal oxygen uptake and lactate threshold before randomization to one of four groups: that inorganic nitrate-rich beetroot juice, or beetroot juice with nitrate extracted; and assigned to one-month of calorie matched high-intensity or moderate-intensity exercise training. Vascular function and fitness will be evaluated before and after training.

Eligibility

Age range

45–75 years

Sex

Female

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Interventions

• Dietary Supplement
  Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Juice

  subjects will consume 1 bottle of nitrate-rich beetroot juice (\~400mg of nitrate each) 2x a day

• Behavioral
  High Intensity Exercise

  exercise at an intensity midway between the lactate threshold and VO2peak, from the screening test at an RPE of \~ 15-17

• Behavioral
  Moderate Intensity Exercise

  exercise at the RPE at LT associated an \~ RPE of 10-12

• Dietary Supplement
  Nitrate-Depleted Placebo Beetroot Juice

  Subjects will consume 1 bottle of nitrate-depleted beetroot juice 2x a day

Location