Experimental design
CAVITY
This study employed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Participants were asked to abstain from food and caloric beverages (12hrs), caffeine (12hrs), alcohol (24hrs), and physical activity (24hrs) prior to the baseline visit. Prior to the exercise testing sessions, participants were asked to abstain from food caloric beverages (4hrs), caffeine (12hrs), alcohol (24hrs), and physical activity (24hrs). Participants were instructed to refrain from using antibacterial mouthwash, chewing gum, and brushing their teeth on the morning of laboratory visits, as these factors may have modulated the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by influencing nitrate reductase enzymes in the oral cavity [Experimental Design Figure [1hrPrEX- 1 hour prior to exercise; *time to exhaustion order was randomized per participant].