Dietary nitrate intake is positively associated with muscle function in men and women independent of physical activity levels

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Title

The Journal of Nutrition

Publisher

Oxford University Press

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences / Institute for Nutrition Research

RAS ID

32444

Funders

Funding information : https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa415

Grant Number

NHMRC Number : 1159914, 1172987

Comments

Sim, M., Blekkenhorst, L. C., Bondonno, N. P., Radavelli-Bagatini, S., Peeling, P., Bondonno, C. P., ... Hodgson, J. M. (2021). Dietary nitrate intake is positively associated with muscle function in men and women independent of physical activity levels. The Journal of Nutrition, 151(5), 1222-1230. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa415

Abstract

Background

Nitrate supplements can improve vascular and muscle function. Whether higher habitual dietary nitrate is associated with better muscle function remains underexplored.

Objective

The aim was to examine whether habitual dietary nitrate intake is associated with better muscle function in a prospective cohort of men and women, and whether the relation was dependent on levels of physical activity.

Methods

The sample (n = 3759) was drawn from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) (56% female; mean ± SD baseline age: 48.6 ± 11.1 y). Habitual dietary intake was assessed over 12 y by obtaining an average [of at least 2 time points, e.g., baseline (2000/2001) and 2004/2005 and/or 2011/2012] from a food-frequency questionnaire. Nitrate intake was calculated from a validated nitrate database and other published literature. Muscle function was quantified by knee extension strength (KES) and the 8-ft-timed-up-and-go (8ft-TUG) test performed in 2011/2012. Physical activity was assessed by questionnaire. Generalized linear models and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

Results

Median (IQR) total nitrate intake was 65 (52–83) mg/d, with ∼81% derived from vegetables. Individuals in the highest tertile of nitrate intake (median intake: 91 mg/d) had 2.6 kg stronger KES (11%) and 0.24 s faster 8ft-TUG (4%) compared with individuals in the lowest tertile of nitrate intake (median intake: 47 mg/d; both P < 0.05). Similarly, individuals in the highest tertile of nitrate intake had lower odds for weak KES (adjusted OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.73) and slow 8ft-TUG (adjusted OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.78) compared with those in the lowest tertile. Physical activity did not influence the relationship between nitrate intake and muscle function (KES; P-interaction = 0.86; 8ft-TUG; P-interaction = 0.99).

Conclusions

Higher habitual dietary nitrate intake, predominantly from vegetables, could be an effective way to promote lower-limb muscle strength and physical function in men and women.

DOI

10.1093/jn/nxaa415

Access Rights

free_to_read

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