Dr Raul Bescos Garcia
Profiles

Dr Raul Bescos Garcia

Lecturer in Dietetics (Physiology Specialist)

School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)

Role

My professional journey began as a research assistant at the High Performance Centre of Barcelona in 2004. I combined several roles in teaching and research within the higher education until I began a PhD in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition in 2008 at the University of Barcelona. I completed my PhD in 2012, and then I moved to Australia to work as a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship within the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL, Victoria University, Melbourne) until I joined the University of Plymouth in November 2014 to take a post as a Lecturer in Nutritional Physiology. 





Qualifications

Teaching Administration
Module Leader:
BSc in Dietetics (DIET501; Pathophysiology)
MSc in Human Nutrition (HNUT703; Sports Nutrition)

Research
Nutrition and Exercise Physiology

Qualifications


Professional membership

Physiological Society

Teaching interests

I teach undergraduate and postgraduate students on different aspects of physiology and nutrition. This relates to my interest in research on the impact of diet and exercise training regarding nitrate metabolism and cardiovascular health. 

Research interests

My current research focuses on the role of diet and physical exercise in shaping the oral microbiome with regards cardiovascular health. We are also investigating the effect of oral treatments for reshaping the composition and/or activity of the oral microbiome in order to enhance oral and cardiovascular protection.

  




Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Bescos R, Casas-Agustench P, Belfield L, Brookes Z & Gabaldón T 2020 'Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Emerging and Future Challenges for Dental and Oral Medicine' Journal of Dental Research 002203452093214-002203452093214 , DOI PEARL
Bescos R, Ashworth A, Cutler C, Brookes ZL, Belfield L, Rodiles A, Casas-Agustench P, Farnham G, Liddle L & Burleigh M 2020 'Effects of Chlorhexidine mouthwash on the oral microbiome' Scientific Reports 10, (1) , DOI PEARL
Cutler C, Kiernan M, Willis JR, Gallardo-Alfaro L, Casas-Agustench P, White D, Hickson M, Gabaldon T & Bescos R 2019 'Post-exercise hypotension and skeletal muscle oxygenation is regulated by nitrate-reducing activity of oral bacteria' Free Radical Biology and Medicine 143, 252-259 , DOI PEARL
Ashworth A, Cutler C, Farnham G, Liddle L, Burleigh M, Rodiles A, Sillitti C, Kiernan M, Moore M & Hickson M 2019 'Dietary intake of inorganic nitrate in vegetarians and omnivores and its impact on blood pressure, resting metabolic rate and the oral microbiome' Free Radical Biology and Medicine , DOI PEARL
Thomas B, Smallwood S, Cutler C & Bescos R 2019 'The oral nitrate-reducing capacity correlates with peak power output and peak oxygen uptake in healthy humans' Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry 87, 43-51 Author Site , DOI PEARL
Bescos R, Boden MJ, Jackson ML, Trewin AJ, Marin EC, Levinger I, Garnham A, Hiam DS, Falcao-Tebas F & Conte F 2018 'Four days of simulated shift work reduces insulin sensitivity in humans' Acta Physiologica , DOI PEARL
Bescos R & Ashworth A 2017 'Dietary nitrate and blood pressure: evolution of a new nutrient?' Nutrition Research Reviews , DOI PEARL
Betteridge S, Bescós R, Martorell M, Pons A, Garnham AP, Stathis CC & McConell GK 2016 'No effect of acute beetroot juice ingestion on oxygen consumption, glucose kinetics, or skeletal muscle metabolism during submaximal exercise in males' Journal of Applied Physiology 120, (4) 391-398 , DOI PEARL
2015 'Commentaries on Viewpoint: Can elite athletes benefit from dietary nitrate supplementation?' Journal of Applied Physiology 119, (6) 762-769 , DOI
Barrero A, Erola P & Bescós R 2014 'Energy Balance of Triathletes during an Ultra-Endurance Event' Nutrients 7, (1) 209-222 , DOI PEARL
Ferrer-Roca V, Bescós R, Roig A, Galilea P, Valero O & García-López J 2014 'Acute Effects of Small Changes in Bicycle Saddle Height on Gross Efficiency and Lower Limb Kinematics' Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 28, (3) 784-791 , DOI
Knechtle B, Rüst CA, Rosemann T, Knechtle P & Bescos R 2012 'Estimation Bias: Body Mass and Body Height in Endurance Athletes' Perceptual and Motor Skills 115, (3) 833-844 , DOI
BESCÓS R, FERRER-ROCA V, GALILEA PA, ROIG A, DROBNIC F, SUREDA A, MARTORELL M, CORDOVA A, TUR JA & PONS A 2012 'Sodium Nitrate Supplementation Does Not Enhance Performance of Endurance Athletes' Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 44, (12) 2400-2409 , DOI
Bescós R, Rodríguez FA, Iglesias X, Benítez A, Marina M, Padullés JM, Torrado P, Vázquez J & Knechtle B 2012 'High Energy Deficit in an Ultraendurance Athlete in a 24-Hour Ultracycling Race' Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings 25, (2) 124-128 , DOI
Bescós R, Rodríguez FA, Iglesias X, Knechtle B, Benítez A, Marina M, Padullés JM, Torrado P, Vazquez J & Rosemann T 2012 'Nutritional behavior of cyclists during a 24-hour team relay race: a field study report' Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 9, (1) , DOI PEARL
Bescós R, Sureda A, Tur JA & Pons A 2012 'The Effect of Nitric-Oxide-Related Supplements on Human Performance' Sports Medicine 42, (2) 99-117 , DOI
2012 'Physiological Demands of Cyclists during an Ultra-Endurance Relay Race: A Field Study Report' The Chinese Journal of Physiology , DOI
BESCÓS R, RODRÍGUEZ FA, IGLESIAS X, FERRER MD, IBORRA E & PONS A 2011 'Acute Administration of Inorganic Nitrate Reduces V˙O2peak in Endurance Athletes' Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 43, (10) 1979-1986 , DOI
García-González MA, Fernández-Chimeno M, Ferrer J, Escorihuela RM, Parrado E, Capdevila L, Benítez A, Angulo R, Rodríguez FA & Iglesias X 2011 'New indices for quantification of the power spectrum of heart rate variability time series without the need of any frequency band definition' Physiological Measurement 32, (8) 995-1009 , DOI
Knechtle B, Wirth A, Knechtle P, Rosemann T, Ruest CA & Bescos R 2011 'A comparison of fat mass and skeletal muscle mass estimation in male ultra-endurance athletes using bioelectrical impedance analysis and different anthropometric methods' NUTRICION HOSPITALARIA 26, (6) 1420-1427 Author Site , DOI
Bescos Garcia R & Rodriguez Guisado FA 2011 'Low levels of vitamin D in professional basketball players after wintertime: relationship with dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium' NUTRICION HOSPITALARIA 26, (5) 945-951 Author Site , DOI
Bescós R, Gonzalez-Haro C, Pujol P, Drobnic F, Alonso E, Santolaria ML, Ruiz O, Esteve M & Galilea P 2009 'Effects of Dietary L-Arginine Intake on Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Adaptation in Athletes' International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism 19, (4) 355-365 , DOI
Bescós R, Esteve M, Porta J, Mateu M, Irurtia A & Voracek M 2009 'Prenatal programming of sporting success: Associations of digit ratio (2D:4D), a putative marker for prenatal androgen action, with world rankings in female fencers' Journal of Sports Sciences 27, (6) 625-632 , DOI
Portao J, Bescos R, Irurtia A, Cacciatori E & Vallejo L 2009 'ASSESSMENT OF BODY FAT IN PHYSICALLY ACTIVE YOUNG PEOPLE: ANTHROPOMETRY VS BIOIMPEDANCE' NUTRICION HOSPITALARIA 24, (5) 529-534 Author Site , DOI
Chapters
Bescos Garcia R, Pons A, Sureda A & Tur JA 2016 'Metabolic Precursors of l-Arginine Supplementation in Sports: A Focus on l-Citrulline and l-Ornithine' in Patel VB; Preedy VR; Rajkurmar R L-Arginine in Clinical Nutrition London Springer International Publishing 311-318 , DOI
Conference Papers
Carmona G, Guerrero M, Moras G, Lloret M, Bescos R, Bedini JL, Rodas G, Cusso R & Cadefau JA 2012 'Analysis of muscle damage induced by a concentric exercise until volitional failure' 1-/-0/1900 1-/-0/1900 303-303
Bescós R, Rodríguez FA, Iglesias X, Ferrer MD & Pons A 2010 'Acute Administration of Inorganic Nitrates Reduces VO2 peak in Endurance Athletes' 1-/-0/1900 1-/-0/1900 Elsevier BV S109-S109 , DOI
Benitez A, Garcia-Gonzalez MA, Angulo R, Rodriguez F, Iglesias X, Bescos R, Marina M & Padulles JM 2010 'Ventilatory Threshold Prediction by Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in Incremental Maximal Tests' 1-/-0/1900 1-/-0/1900 939-942
Bescós R, González-Haro C, Pujol P, Drobnic F, Galilea PA, Alonso E, Santolaria ML & Ruiz O 2008 'Effect of L-Arginine Enriched Diet on Running Economy of Elite Tennis Players' 1-/-0/1900 1-/-0/1900 Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) S401-S401 , DOI