Is beetroot juice more effective than sodium nitrate? The effects of equimolar nitrate dosages of nitrate-rich beetroot juice and sodium nitrate on oxygen consumption during exercise
Open accessAbstract
Dietary nitrate has been reported to lower oxygen consumption in moderate- and severe-intensity exercise. To date, it is unproven that sodium nitrate (NaNO 3−; NIT) and nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) have the same effects on oxygen consumption, blood pressure, and plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations or not. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different dosages of NIT and BR on oxygen consumption in male athletes. Twelve healthy, well-trained men (median [minimum; maximum]; peak oxygen consumption: 59.4 mL·min−1·kg−1 [40.5; 67.0]) performed 7 trials on different days, ingesting different nitrate dosages and placebo (PLC). Dosages were 3, 6, and 12 mmol nitrate as concentrated BR or NIT dissolved in plain water. Plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations were measured before, 3 h after ingestion, and postexercise. Participants cycled for 5 min at moderate intensity and further 8 min at severe intensity. End-exercise oxygen consumption at moderate intensity was not significantly different between the 7 trials (p = 0.08). At severe-intensity exercise, end-exercise oxygen consumption was ∼4% lower in the 6-mmol BR trial compared with the 6-mmol NIT (p = 0.003) trial as well as compared with PLC (p = 0.010). Plasma nitrite and nitrate concentrations were significantly increased after the ingestion of BR and NIT with the highest concentrations in the 12-mmol trials. Plasma nitrite concentration between NIT and BR did not significantly differ in the 6-mmol (p = 0.27) and in the 12-mmol (p = 0.75) trials. In conclusion, BR might reduce oxygen consumption to a greater extent compared with NIT.
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Whole-food nitrate sources appear to be more effective than isolated nitrate salts, potentially due to synergistic interactions with phytochemicals such as polyphenols and betalains.
“Notably, whole-food nitrate sources appear to be more effective than isolated nitrate salts, potentially due to synergistic interactions with phytochemicals such as polyphenols and betalains [50].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [50]
Nitrate-rich beetroot supplementation has consistently been shown to improve oxygen utilisation and cardiopulmonary efficiency in older populations.
“Indeed, nitrate-rich beetroot supplementation has consistently been shown to improve oxygen utilisation and cardiopulmonary efficiency in these populations [48,50].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [50]
Dietary antioxidants may further support mitochondrial effects, providing a mechanistic explanation for the greater efficacy of whole-food nitrate sources.
“Dietary antioxidants may further support these effects, providing a mechanistic explanation for the greater efficacy of whole-food nitrate sources [50,58].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [50]
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“Notably, whole-food nitrate sources appear to be more effective than isolated nitrate salts, potentially due to synergistic interactions with phytochemicals such as polyphenols and betalains [50].”
- Authors
- Flueck, J. L., Bogdanova, A., Mettler, S., & Perret, C.
- Affiliations
- Institute of Sports Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre Nottwil, 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland.
- University of Zurich (CH)
- ETH Zurich (CH)
- Swiss Paraplegic Center (CH)
- Venue
- Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism
- Publisher
- Canadian Science Publishing
- Published
- 2016-04
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 421-429
- ISSN
- 1715-5312 (ISSN-L)
- 1715-5320
- OpenAlex
- W2208133666
- Cited by
- 67
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 10.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Funders
- University of Exeter
- Karolinska Institutet
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
- Keywords
- beetroot juice, sodium nitrate, dietary nitrate, exercise oxygen consumption, plasma nitrite, plasma nitrate, severe-intensity exercise, trained athletes, blood pressure
- MeSH terms
- Fruit and Vegetable Juices, Adult, Blood Pressure, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nitrates, Nitrites, Oxygen Consumption, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Single-Blind Method, Plant Roots, Cross-Over Studies, Dietary Supplements, Beta vulgaris, Gastrointestinal Tract, Young Adult, Athletes
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