{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:30:58Z","timestamp":1760059858181,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":98,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"14","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,21]],"date-time":"2025-07-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753056000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Pre-season training is critical for developing tolerance to high physical demands in professional soccer, and nitric oxide (NO) precursors such as dietary nitrate (NO3\u2212) and citrulline malate (CM) can support performance and recovery during this demanding phase. This study aimed to examine the effects of a four-week supplementation protocol combining 500 mg of NO3\u2212 from amaranth extract and 8 g of CM (NIT + CM) on external training load and post-match recovery in professional female soccer players during pre-season. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 34 female soccer players who received either the NIT + CM product or a placebo for four weeks during pre-season. Global positioning system (GPS)-derived external load was recorded throughout the intervention. Performance tests\u2014a countermovement jump (CMJ) test and the Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT)\u2014and blood sampling for plasma NO3\u2212 and nitrite (NO2\u2212) concentrations were conducted at baseline and the day after a competitive match. Results: The supplementation with NIT + CM increased maximal speed (Vmax) throughout training and match play. During post-match testing, the NIT + CM group exhibited a significantly smaller decline in mean (Pmean) and minimum (Pmin) power during the WAnT, along with reduced power loss in both the first (0\u201315 s) and second (15\u201330 s) intervals. Plasma NO3\u2212 concentrations significantly increased from baseline in the NIT + CM group and remained elevated 24 h after the final dose, confirming sustained systemic exposure. Conclusions: Chronic NIT + CM supplementation may enhance Vmax and help preserve anaerobic performance the day after a match. These effects could reflect improved tolerance to high training loads and sustained NO3\u2212 availability during recovery.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu17142381","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,21]],"date-time":"2025-07-21T11:44:05Z","timestamp":1753098245000},"page":"2381","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Impact of Chronic Nitrate and Citrulline Malate Supplementation on Performance and Recovery in Spanish Professional Female Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1877-6766","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marta","family":"Ram\u00edrez-Munera","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Murcia (UCAM), Campus de los Jer\u00f3nimos, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4221-3528","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ra\u00fal","family":"Arcusa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Murcia (UCAM), Campus de los Jer\u00f3nimos, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2841-5502","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francisco Javier","family":"L\u00f3pez-Rom\u00e1n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Murcia (UCAM), Campus de los Jer\u00f3nimos, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, Spain"},{"name":"Primary Care Research Group, Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30120 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8151-0576","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vicente","family":"\u00c1vila-Gand\u00eda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Murcia (UCAM), Campus de los Jer\u00f3nimos, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2027-9075","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Silvia","family":"P\u00e9rez-Pi\u00f1ero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Murcia (UCAM), Campus de los Jer\u00f3nimos, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5874-7508","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Juan Carlos","family":"Mu\u00f1oz-Carrillo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Murcia (UCAM), Campus de los Jer\u00f3nimos, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2800-0470","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonio Jes\u00fas","family":"Luque-Rubia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Murcia (UCAM), Campus de los Jer\u00f3nimos, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8239-0193","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Javier","family":"Marhuenda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Murcia (UCAM), Campus de los Jer\u00f3nimos, Guadalupe, 30107 Murcia, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"665","DOI":"10.1080\/02640410500482529","article-title":"Physical and metabolic demands of training and match-play in the elite football player","volume":"24","author":"Bangsbo","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. 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