Potential effect of beetroot juice supplementation on exercise economy in well-trained females

• Published in: Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 106 - 109
• Main Authors: Forbes, Stacey P.A, Spriet, Lawrence L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1840 Woodward Drive, Suite 1, Ottawa, ON K2C 0P7 NRC Research Press 01.01.2022; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: athlètes féminines entraînées à la ringuette; beetroot juice; Beets; consommation d’oxygène; Dietary supplements; exercice sous-maximal; exercise; Exercise physiology; females; Food and nutrition; Health aspects; heart rate; jus de betterave; Maximum oxygen consumption; metabolism; nitrate; Nitrates; nutrition; Nutritional aspects; Nutritional supplement drinks; oxygen consumption; peak oxygen uptake; Physiological aspects; ratings of perceived exertion; Ringette; submaximal exercise; trained female ringette athletes; Training; Women athletes; Womens health; évaluations de l’effort perçu; Canada; exercice sous-maximal; submaximal exercise; ratings of perceived exertion; athlètes féminines entraînées à la ringuette; évaluations de l’effort perçu; oxygen consumption; jus de betterave; beetroot juice; consommation d’oxygène; nitrate; trained female ringette athletes
• ISSN: 1715-5312; 1715-5320; 1715-5320
• DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2021-0563

This study examined if acute dietary nitrate supplementation (140 mL beetroot juice, BRJ) would reduce oxygen consumption (V̇O 2 ) during cycling at power outputs of 50 and 70% maximal oxygen consumption in 14 well-trained female Canadian University Ringette League athletes. BRJ had no effect on V̇O 2 or heart rate but significantly reduced ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) at both intensities. Individually, 4 participants responded to BRJ supplementation with a ≥3% reduction in V̇O 2 at the higher power output. Novelty: Acute BRJ supplementation did not improve exercise economy in well-trained females, but significantly reduced RPE. However, 4/14 subjects did respond with a ≥3% V̇O 2 reduction.