Table 2.
Nitrate supplement usage.
| Users | % | Unsure | % | Total | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In total, how long have you been using dietary nitrate supplements for? | ||||||
| <month | 43 | 27.9% | 15 | 9.7% | 58 | 37.7% |
| 2–6 months | 36 | 23.4% | 4 | 2.6% | 40 | 26.0% |
| 7 months–1 year | 15 | 9.7% | 1 | 0.6% | 16 | 10.4% |
| 1–2 years | 20 | 13.0% | 2 | 1.3% | 22 | 14.3% |
| >2 years | 15 | 9.7% | 3 | 1.9% | 18 | 11.7% |
| Type of dietary nitrate supplement used | ||||||
| Beetroot juice | 53 | 29.1% | 4 | 2.2% | 57 | 31.3% |
| BeetIT sports bar | 22 | 12.1% | 3 | 1.6% | 25 | 13.7% |
| Powder | 38 | 20.9% | 4 | 2.2% | 42 | 23.1% |
| Capsule | 20 | 11.0% | 4 | 2.2% | 24 | 13.2% |
| Whole beetroot | 2 | 1.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 1.1% |
| Other | 28 | 15.4% | 4 | 2.2% | 32 | 17.6% |
| Amount/dose typically consumed | ||||||
| 1 × 70 mL BEET shot | 30 | 19.5% | 5 | 3.2% | 35 | 22.7% |
| 1 × 40 g BEET bar | 12 | 7.8% | 4 | 2.6% | 16 | 10.4% |
| 1 × 250 mL beetroot juice | 18 | 11.7% | 1 | 0.6% | 19 | 12.3% |
| 1 × Tbsp beet powder | 22 | 14.3% | 2 | 1.3% | 24 | 15.6% |
| 2 × iForce capsules | 13 | 8.4% | 2 | 1.3% | 15 | 9.7% |
| Other | 34 | 22.1% | 11 | 7.1% | 45 | 29.2% |
| Servings per week (1 serving = amount indicated on the product label) | ||||||
| 1–3 times | 85 | 55.2% | 17 | 11.0% | 102 | 66.2% |
| 4–6 times | 35 | 22.7% | 4 | 2.6% | 39 | 25.3% |
| 7–9 times | 5 | 3.2% | 2 | 1.3% | 7 | 4.5% |
| 10–12 times | 2 | 1.3% | 1 | 0.6% | 3 | 1.9% |
| 13+ times | 2 | 1.3% | 1 | 0.6% | 3 | 1.9% |
| If used for exercise performance when do/did you take dietary nitrate supplements? | ||||||
| Several days before event | 34 | 17.4% | 6 | 3.1% | 40 | 20.5% |
| Immediately before event | 72 | 36.9% | 10 | 5.1% | 82 | 42.1% |
| During event | 11 | 5.6% | 4 | 2.1% | 15 | 7.7% |
| Immediately after event | 19 | 9.7% | 7 | 3.6% | 26 | 13.3% |
| In the hours after the event | 25 | 12.8% | 3 | 1.5% | 28 | 14.4% |
| Other | 3 | 1.5% | 1 | 0.5% | 4 | 2.1% |
| Where did you obtain/buy your dietary nitrate supplements? | ||||||
| Team sponsor | 3 | 1.6% | 1 | 0.5% | 4 | 2.2% |
| Nutritionist/dietitian | 11 | 6.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 11 | 6.0% |
| Pharmacy | 34 | 18.5% | 6 | 3.3% | 40 | 21.7% |
| Teammate | 3 | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 1.6% |
| Family member | 9 | 4.9% | 2 | 1.1% | 11 | 6.0% |
| Coach | 7 | 3.8% | 1 | 0.5% | 8 | 4.3% |
| Internet | 35 | 19.0% | 6 | 3.3% | 41 | 22.3% |
| Retail | 46 | 25.0% | 8 | 4.3% | 54 | 29.3% |
| Other | 8 | 4.3% | 4 | 2.2% | 12 | 6.5% |
| Do you think there are any risks (health or otherwise) associated with dietary nitrate supplements? | ||||||
| Yes | 30 | 19.5% | 7 | 4.5% | 37 | 24.0% |
| No | 58 | 37.7% | 2 | 1.3% | 60 | 39.0% |
| Unsure | 41 | 26.6% | 16 | 10.4% | 57 | 37.0% |
| Have you ever experienced adverse effects from taking dietary nitrate supplements? | ||||||
| Yes | 5 | 3.2% | 2 | 1.3% | 7 | 4.5% |
| No | 124 | 80.5% | 23 | 14.9% | 147 | 95.5% |
| What were the symptoms? | ||||||
| Abdominal pain | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
| Beeturia (red or pink urine) | 2 | 13.3% | 1 | 6.7% | 3 | 20.0% |
| Red stools | 3 | 20.0% | 1 | 6.7% | 4 | 26.7% |
| Nausea and/or vomiting | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 6.7% | 1 | 6.7% |
| Headache | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 6.7% | 1 | 6.7% |
| Gastrointestinal distress | 5 | 33.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 5 | 33.3% |
| Chest pain | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
| Disturbed sleep | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
| Other | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 6.7% | 1 | 6.7% |
| Did you continue to take the supplement despite the adverse effects? | ||||||
| Yes | 4 | 57.1% | 1 | 14.3% | 5 | 71.4% |
| No | 1 | 14.3% | 1 | 14.3% | 2 | 28.6% |