The effects of beetroot juice supplementation on indices of muscle damage following eccentric exercise
Open accessAbstract
Purpose Foods rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals might attenuate skeletal muscle damage; thus, the present study investigated whether consuming an antioxidant rich beetroot juice would attenuate the muscle-damaging effects of eccentric exercise.Methods Using a double blind, independent groups design, 30 recreationally active males were allocated to consume a high dose of beetroot juice (H-BT; 250 ml), a lower dose of beetroot juice (L-BT; 125 ml), or an isocaloric placebo (PLA; 250 ml) immediately (×3 servings), 24 (×2 servings) and 48 h (×2 servings) following completion of 100-drop jumps. Maximal isometric voluntary contractions (MIVC), countermovement jumps (CMJ), pressure pain threshold (PPT), creatine kinase (CK), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured pre, post, 2 (blood indices only), 24, 48 and 72 h following the drop jumps.Results CMJ performance recovered quicker (relative to baseline) in H-BT vs. PLA at 48 (91.7 ± 12.2 vs. 74.4 ± 17.3%; P = 0.009, ES = 1.00) and 72 h postexercise (93.4 ± 7.7 vs. 86 ± 5.9%; P = 0.046, ES = 1.25). PPT was greater in both the H-BT and L-BT vs. PLA at 24, 48 and 72 h postexercise (P < 0.001); PPT had returned to baseline in H-BT and L-BT at 72 h postexercise, but was still reduced in PLA (80.1 ± 28.9% of baseline values). MIVC, CK, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-8 were unaffected by beetroot juice (P > 0.05).Conclusions Acute beetroot juice supplementation attenuated muscle soreness and decrements in CMJ performance induced by eccentric exercise; further research on the anti-inflammatory effects of beetroot juice are required to elucidate the precise mechanisms.
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Acute beetroot juice supplementation has no effect on maximal isometric voluntary contractions, CK, and some inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-8).
“while apparently having no effect on maximal isometric voluntary contractions, CK and some inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-8) [114].”
From The 4R’s Framework of Nutritional Strategies for Post-Exercise Recovery: A Review with Emphasis on New Generation of Carbohydrates (2020) · cites this paper as [114]
Acute supplementation of beetroot juice (250 mL ×3 servings, two servings 24 h and 48 h following completion of 100-drop jumps) attenuates muscle soreness and decrements in countermovement jump performance induced by eccentric exercise.
“It has been found that acute supplementation of beetroot juice (250 mL) ×3 servings, two serving 24 h and 48 h following completion of 100-drop jumps attenuated muscle soreness and decrements in countermovement jump performance induced by eccentric exercise, while apparently having no effect on maximal isometric voluntary contractions, CK and some inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-8) [”
From The 4R’s Framework of Nutritional Strategies for Post-Exercise Recovery: A Review with Emphasis on New Generation of Carbohydrates (2020) · cites this paper as [114]
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- Authors
- Clifford, T., Bell, O., West, D. J., Howatson, G., & Stevenson, E. J.
- Affiliations
- Northumbria University (GB)
- North-West University (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Clifford, Tom
- Venue
- European Journal of Applied Physiology
- Published
- 2015-11-04
- Volume
- 116
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 353-362
- ISSN
- 0020-9376 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-6319
- 1439-6327
- OpenAlex
- W2148337915
- Cited by
- 117
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 6.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- European Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (submittedVersion)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- beetroot juice, eccentric exercise, muscle damage, antioxidant supplementation, anti-inflammatory activity, muscle soreness, countermovement jump, pressure pain threshold, creatine kinase, cytokines, nitrate
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Antioxidants, Humans, Male, Muscle Contraction, Plant Extracts, Exercise, Cytokines, Pain Threshold, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Fatigue, Dietary Supplements, Beta vulgaris, Myalgia
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