2.1. Subjects

In this randomized crossover study, seven healthy males recreationally involved in basketball, badminton, and futsal (mean ± SD; age, 25 ± 2 years; body mass, 66.3 ± 6.0 kg; height, 1.74 ± 0.05 m) volunteered to participate in this study. Considering the standard deviations (SDs) of circulating nitrate levels based upon our previous findings [11], this n value allowed the detection of significant differences between groups (if present) with an alpha level of 0.05 and a beta level of 0.20 (Prism 6.0, GraphPad Software, La Jolla, CA, USA). Before the start of the study, participants underwent a complete medical screening (medical history, physical examination, and resting electrocardiogram) to ensure that there were no contraindications to study participation. An incremental cycle ergometer test up to exhaustion was also performed for the determination of peak oxygen consumptio (V˙O2 peak) and peak work rate (41.2 ± 4.7 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; 226 ± 49 W). All subjects gave their written informed consent to participate after the experimental procedures, associated risks, and potential benefits of participation had been explained. All procedures were in accordance with the recommendations found in the Declaration of Helsinki (2000) of the World Medical Association.