Burgos, JoséViribay, AitorCalleja González, JulioFernández Lázaro, DiegoOlasagasti Ibargoien, JurgiSeco Calvo, JesúsMielgo Ayuso, Juan2024-11-222024-11-222022-01-04Burgos, J., Viribay, A., Calleja‐gonzález, J., Fernández‐lázaro, D., Olasagasti‐ibargoien, J., Seco‐calvo, J., & Mielgo‐ayuso, J. (2022). Long‐term combined effects of citrulline and nitrate‐rich beetroot extract supplementation on recovery status in trained male triathletes: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Biology, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/BIOLOGY1101007510.3390/BIOLOGY11010075http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14454/2088Citrulline (CIT) and nitrate‐rich beetroot extract (BR) are widely studied ergogenic aids. Nevertheless, both supplements have been studied in short‐term trials and separately. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the effects of combining CIT and BR supplementation on recovery status observed by distance covered in the Cooper test, exercise‐induced muscle damage (EIMD) and an-abolic/catabolic hormone status have not been investigated to date. Therefore, the main purpose of this research was to assess the effect of the long‐term (9 weeks) mixture of 3 g/day of CIT plus 2.1 g/day of BR (300 mg/day of nitrates (NO3−)) supplementation on recovery by distance covered in the Cooper test, EIMD markers (urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, GGT, LDH and CK) and anabolic/catabolic hormones (testosterone, cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C)) in male trained triathletes. Thirty‐two triathletes were randomized into four different groups of eight triath-letes in this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial: placebo group (PLG), CIT group (CITG; 3 g/day of CIT), BR group (BRG; 2.1 g/day of BR (300 mg/day of NO3−)) and CIT‐BR group (CIT‐BRG; 3 g/day of CIT plus 2.1 g/day of BR (300 mg/day of NO3−)). Distance covered in the Cooper test and blood samples were collected from all participants at baseline (T1) and after 9 weeks of supplementation (T2). There were no significant differences in the interaction between group and time in EIMD markers (urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, GGT, LDH and CK) (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed in the group‐by‐time interaction in distance covered in the Cooper test (p = 0.002; η2p = 0.418), cortisol (p = 0.044; η2p = 0.247) and T/C (p = 0.005; η²p = 0.359). Concretely, significant differences were observed in distance covered in the Cooper test percentage of change (p = 0.002; η²p = 0.418) between CIT‐BRG and PLG and CITG, in cortisol percentage change (p = 0.049; η2p = 0.257and in T/C percentage change (p = 0.018; η2p = 0.297) between CIT‐BRG and PLG. In conclusion, the combination of 3 g/day of CIT plus 2.1 g/day of BR (300 mg/day of NO3−) supplementation for 9 weeks did not present any benefit for EIMD. However, CIT + BR improved recovery status by pre-venting an increase in cortisol and showing an increase in distance covered in the Cooper test and T/C.eng© 2022 by the authorsjournal article2024-11-222079-7737