The Effect of Beetroot Juice Supplementation Dose on Neuromuscular Performance During Resistance Exercise

Authors

Raymond T. GerardoFollow
Isabella G. LincolnFollow
Keonabelle P. PaniaguaFollow
Justin M. FosterFollow
Lauren E. WideenFollow
Nathan J. OrnelasFollow
Isaac TchaprazianFollow
Jeffrey LiFollow
Michael EgiazarianFollow
Adam Pennell
Rachel Tan, Pepperdine UniversityFollow

Abstract

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice may have more pronounced ergogenic effects on exercise that requires high-power and high-velocity muscle contraction; however, the efficacy of, and the optimal dosing for nitrate to enhance resistance exercise performance is unknown. PURPOSE: To assess whether nitrate elicits dose-dependent ergogenic effects during a battery of resistance exercises in resistance-trained men. METHODS: Eighteen resistance-trained men were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to consume 280 ml nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (PL; negligible nitrate), 70 ml nitrate-rich beetroot juice and 210 ml nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (BR-LOW; ~6.5 mmol nitrate), 140 ml nitrate-rich beetroot juice and 140ml nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (BR-MOD; ~13 mmol nitrate) and 280 ml nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR-HIGH; ~26 mmol of nitrate) 2.5 h prior to performing countermovement jumps (CMJ), back squats and bench press. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess differences in performance measures. RESULTS: There was no effect of condition on peak force, average propulsion mean force, rate of power development, peak positive power, concentric mean power, jump height, takeoff velocity, or flight time during CMJ (P>0.05). There was no effect of condition on peak and mean power, peak and mean power normalized to body mass, or peak and mean velocity during squats and bench press at 50%1RM and 75%1RM (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that nitrate supplementation was ineffective at enhancing various resistance exercises regardless of dose. However, through visual inspection, we observed intra- and inter-variability in responses to nitrate and thus, future studies could use statistical analyses to further examine variability in performance effects of nitrate on resistance exercise.

Recommended Citation

Gerardo, Raymond T.; Lincoln, Isabella G.; Paniagua, Keonabelle P.; Foster, Justin M.; Wideen, Lauren E.; Ornelas, Nathan J.; Tchaprazian, Isaac; Li, Jeffrey; Egiazarian, Michael; Pennell, Adam; and Tan, Rachel (2024) "The Effect of Beetroot Juice Supplementation Dose on Neuromuscular Performance During Resistance Exercise," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 4, Article 18.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss4/18