The effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on the speed-duration relationship in mice with sickle cell disease

<jats:p>Sickle cell disease compromises muscle O<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>delivery resulting in exercise intolerance. Dietary nitrate supplementation increases skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise and may improve exercise capacity in a mouse model of sickle cell disease. We investigated the effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on exercise tolerance in a mouse model of sickle cell disease using the treadmill speed-duration relationship (critical speed). Mice with sickle cell disease provided with a dietary nitrate supplement had a critical speed not significantly different from healthy wild-type mice.</jats:p>