NITRIC OXIDE AND LACTATE RESPONSES TO MAXIMAL INTERMITTENT ACUTE EXERCISE

Abstract. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas with vasodilator and metabolic regulator properties. The present study aimed to examine the relation between NO and lactic acid, and NO difference in acute anaerobic and aerobic loads in aerobic and anaerobic exercise groups. Three groups participated in this study; each group consisted of 11 men with similar physical characteristics. The groups consisted of swimmers as the aerobic group (AeG), volleyball players as the anaerobic group (AnG), and control group (CG). Participants were given 3 acute exercise phases in the scope of lactate minimum speed test (LMSt). NO and lactic acid measurements were taken at particular phases in LMSt. Lactate minimum speed values of AeG (11.5±1.1 km·h-1) were significantly higher than those of the CG (p0.05; 9.2%) than the base NO. Additionally, contrary to the AnG, an increase was observed in ΔNOlevel during active recovery and in NO level after the reloading phase in AeG. Also, lactate elimination level of the aerobic group was higher than the other groups. As a result; these findings show the role of a more active lactate elimination capacity since NO levels in the aerobic group are higher than the other groups following a maximal intermittent exercise.Key words: Nitric oxide, lactate minimum, performance, aerobic, anaerobic