Dr Raul Bescos Garcia
Profiles

Dr Raul Bescos Garcia

Lecturer in Dietetics (Physiology Specialist)

School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)

I joined the University of Plymouth in November of 2014 after to complete a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Victoria University (Melbourne, Australia) and a PhD at the University of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain). I am a core lecturer on Human Physiology within the BSc in Dietetics and the MSc in Human Nutrition among other courses. My current research interest focuses on the interface between the oral microbiome, nitric oxide metabolism and cardiovascular health.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Physical Activity and Sport
  • MSc in Physical Activity and Exercise
  • BSc in Exercise Sicences
  • BSc in Human Nutrition & Dietetics

Professional membership

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (recognition reference number: PR098846)

Fellow of the Physiological Society (Membership 137026)

Key publications

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 0-0 , DOI Open access
Bescos R & Ashworth A 2017 'Dietary nitrate and blood pressure: evolution of a new nutrient?' Nutrition Research Reviews , DOI Open access
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 Open access
2015 'Commentaries on Viewpoint: Can elite athletes benefit from dietary nitrate supplementation?' Journal of Applied Physiology 119, (6) 762-769 , 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, Sureda A, Tur JA & Pons A 2012 'The Effect of Nitric-Oxide-Related Supplements on Human Performance' Sports Medicine 42, (2) 99-117 , DOI
View all publications

Teaching interests

I am the module lead of DIET501 (Pathophysiology) within the BSc in Dietetics and HNUT703 (Sports Nutrition) within the MSc in Human Nutrition. i also support lectures on immunology and genetics within these programs. 

Research interests

I am a member of the Dietetics, Human Nutrition and Health Research Group, and the Oral Microbiome Research Group


Key publications

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 0-0 , DOI Open access
Bescos R & Ashworth A 2017 'Dietary nitrate and blood pressure: evolution of a new nutrient?' Nutrition Research Reviews , DOI Open access
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 Open access
2015 'Commentaries on Viewpoint: Can elite athletes benefit from dietary nitrate supplementation?' Journal of Applied Physiology 119, (6) 762-769 , 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, Sureda A, Tur JA & Pons A 2012 'The Effect of Nitric-Oxide-Related Supplements on Human Performance' Sports Medicine 42, (2) 99-117 , DOI

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Brookes ZLS, Bescos R, Belfield LA, Ali K & Roberts A 2020 'Current uses of chlorhexidine for management of oral disease: a narrative review' Journal of Dentistry 103, 103497-103497 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
Bescos R, Brookes ZLS, Belfield LA, Fernandez-Sanjurjo M & Casas-Agustench P 2020 'Modulation of oral microbiota: A new frontier in exercise supplementation' PharmaNutrition 14, 100230-100230 , DOI Open access
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 99, (9) 1113-1113 , DOI Open access
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) 0-0 , DOI Open access
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 Open access
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 Open access
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 Open access
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 0-0 , DOI Open access
Bescos R & Ashworth A 2017 'Dietary nitrate and blood pressure: evolution of a new nutrient?' Nutrition Research Reviews , DOI Open access
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 Open access
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 Open access
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 Open access
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' 303-303
Bescós R, Rodríguez FA, Iglesias X, Ferrer MD & Pons A 2010 'Acute Administration of Inorganic Nitrates Reduces VO2 peak in Endurance Athletes' 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' 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' Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) S401-S401 , DOI