Impact of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on VO2max During Ramadan Fasting in Healthy Adults

Recent literature demonstrates data showing a decrease in VO2max during the first week of Ramadan fasting. This is a practice observed by millions around the world every year, where individuals abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset, dictated by the lunar calendar. Dietary nitrate consumption has been shown to increase VO2max and exercise performance. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to investigate whether dietary nitrate, in the form of beetroot juice, can help mitigate the decrease in VO2 max during the first week of Ramadan fasting. 24 young healthy adults will be recruited to undergo these two visits. The first visit will assess maximal oxygen uptake to determine aerobic fitness and metabolic exercise intensity zones under non-fasting conditions. The second visit will be completed after one week of Ramadan fasting. If assigned to the intervention group, participants will consume one shot (70ml) of Blonyx - Beet It Sport Nitrate 400 beetroot juice every day. Each shot contains 400mg of nitrates. Urine Specific Gravity will be measured after each visit to assess hydration status. The intervention group will also undergo Single Blood Draws after each visit to assess nitrate concentrations before and after a week of consumption.