Repeated-sprint performance and plasma responses following beetroot juice supplementation do not differ between recreational, competitive and elite sprint athletes
Open accessAbstract
PURPOSE: There is an ongoing debate whether highly trained athletes are less responsive to the ergogenic properties of nitrate. We assessed the effects of nitrate supplementation on plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations and repeated-sprint performance in recreational, competitive and elite sprint athletes. METHODS: In a randomized double-blinded cross-over design, recreational cyclists (n = 20), national talent speed-skaters (n = 22) and Olympic-level track cyclists (n = 10) underwent two 6-day supplementation periods; 140 mL/d nitrate-rich (BR; ∼800 mg/d) and nitrate-depleted (PLA; ∼0.5 mg/d) beetroot juice. Blood samples were collected and three 30-s Wingate tests were performed. RESULTS: Plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations were higher following BR vs PLA (P < .001), with no differences between sport levels (all P > .10). Peak power over the three Wingates was not different between BR and PLA (1338 ± 30 vs 1333 ± 30 W; P = .62), and there was no interaction between treatment (BR-PLA) and Wingate number (1-2-3; P = .48). Likewise, mean power did not differ between BR and PLA (P = .86). In contrast, time to peak power improved by ∼2.8% following BR vs PLA (P = .007). This improvement in BR vs PLA was not different between Wingate 1, 2 and 3. Moreover, the effects of BR vs PLA did not differ between sport levels for any Wingate parameter (all P > .30). CONCLUSION: The plasma and repeated-sprint performance responses to beetroot juice supplementation do not differ between recreational, competitive and elite sprint athletes. Beetroot juice supplementation reduces time to reach peak power, which may improve the capacity to accelerate during high-intensity and sprint tasks in recreational as well as elite athletes.
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Enhanced skeletal muscle contractile function has been observed during electrically stimulated contractions, and enhanced peak power output has been observed during isokinetic dynamometry and cycling exercise.
“Consistent with the potential for improved weightlifting exercise performance after NO3− supplementation, enhanced skeletal muscle contractile function has been observed during electrically stimulated contractions [95,96,103], and enhanced peak power output has been observed during isokinetic dynamometry [97,123,128] and cycling [45,57,60,129,130,131,132,133] exercise.”
From Effects of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Weightlifting Exercise Performance in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review (2020) · cites this paper as [57]
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References 42 · Cited by 57
- Authors
- Jonvik, K. L., Nyakayiru, J., Van Dijk, J. W., Maase, K., Ballak, S. B., Senden, J. M. G., Van Loon, L. J. C., & Verdijk, L. B.
- Affiliations
- HAN University of Applied Sciences (NL)
- Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL)
- Institute of Sports and Exercise Studies HAN University of Applied Sciences Nijmegen Netherlands
- Nederlands Olympisch Comité Nederlandse Sport Federatie (NL)
- Sport Medisch Centrum Papendal (NL)
- Department of Human Biology and Movement Sciences NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Maastricht University Medical Centre+ Netherlands
- Corresponding author
- Verdijk, L.B.
- Venue
- European Journal of Sport Science
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2018-02-07
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 524-533
- ISSN
- 1536-7290 (ISSN-L)
- 1746-1391
- OpenAlex
- W2790568355
- Cited by
- 57
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 7.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- European Journal of Sport Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Stichting voor de Technische Wetenschappen (12887)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- beetroot juice, nitrate supplementation, repeated sprint performance, plasma nitrate, plasma nitrite, sprinters, elite athletes, recreational athletes, time to peak power, peak power, Wingate test, speed skating, cycling
- MeSH terms
- Fruit and Vegetable Juices, Adolescent, Adult, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Nitrates, Nitrites, Cross-Over Studies, Dietary Supplements, Beta vulgaris, Athletic Performance, Young Adult, Athletes, Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
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