Beetroot Juice: Anaerobic Performance and Fatigue in Swimmers

Effect of Beetroot Juice on Anaerobic Performance and Fatigue in Adolescent Male Swimmers

The effects of beet juice supplementation on different types of physical performance have been examined in many studies. However, although the number of studies, including the effect of beet juice on physical performance, measuring blood lactate and fatigue levels in swimmers, is limited, most studies focused on acute intake. This study investigated the effects of beetroot juice on anaerobic performance, fatigue, and blood lactate in adolescent male swimmers.Swimmers underwent a single-blind intervention, consuming either a 2x250 ml placebo (0.6 mmol NO3- ) or beetroot juice (8 mmol NO3-) (rich in nitrate, NO3-) for six days. Performance was measured through an 8x100-meter maximal effort swim, with blood lactate and perceived fatigue assessed before and after.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Nutrition, Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Plesabo Drink; Other: Beetroot Juice

Detailed Description

This study, designed as a single-blind intervention study, was conducted in October-November 2023 with adolescent swimmers. . In determining the sample, effect size d (effect size): 1.6975 and standard deviation was taken as 4.12, and the minimum number of samples determined for Power: 0.95 and α: 0.05 in the G*Power 3.1.9 computer program was determined as seven adolescents. Adolescent swimmers with a medical condition diagnosed by a physician, following a special diet, and using regular medication were excluded from the study. Anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, body composition, skin fold measurements), freestyle time trial (TT) swimming performance test, blood lactate measurement and the Borg fatigue scale were taken.

Anthropometric Measurements Body Weight, Height, and Body Composition: The heights of the swimmers were measured with the SECA 213 brand portable stadiometer, with the feet side by side and the head on the Frankfurt plane. Body weight and composition were measured in the morning on an empty stomach, with light clothing, without shoes or socks, using a 0.1 kg sensitive TANITA MC-780 Black professional body composition device.

Skinfold Thickness Measurements: Swimmers' skinfold thicknesses were taken from the triceps, biceps, subscapular, supraspinal, abdomen, thigh, calf, chest, and midaxillary regions using Holstein brand calipers. Measurements were madein accordance with the ISAK protocol (Norton, 2018). The body fat ratio was calculated with the Foulkner (1968) equation, which was developed to calculate the body fat ratio from skinfold thickness measurements on the face.

Freestyle Time Trial (TT) Swimming Performance Test The swimmers' 8x100 m maximum effort swimming performance times were recorded with the help of a Seiko S141 300 memory stopwatch brand stopwatch with 1/100 second precision. A polar watch was attached to the swimmers' right arms, and measurements were taken every 100 m. The start of the performance was made from the sprint stone with the command (take your mark) followed by an electronic beep. 100 m freestyle swimming performance was performed by swimmers with maximum performance.

Blood Lactate Measurement: The blood lactate measurement was completed after the 8x100 m maximum effort swimming performance; blood samples taken from the finger within 10 seconds were analyzed using the Lactate Pro 2 analyzer. Lactate values were recorded in mmol/l.

Borg Fatigue Scale: The level of fatigue perceived by swimmers during the performance was recorded using the "Borg Fatigue Scale." The swimmers were asked to use this scale verbally at the end of each 8x00 meter test, and they were asked to evaluate it between 0 and 10. As the score from the scale increases, the level of perceived fatigue increases (Borg, 1982).

Study Plan:Informed consent forms were obtained after informing the adolescent male swimmers and their parents about the study. Throughout the study, they were instructed to avoid nitrate-rich foods (e.g., beets, celery, spinach). Additionally, they were asked not to use antibacterial mouthwash and chewing gum, which have been shown to kill bacteria in the mouth and impair NO2- bioavailability during the study period (Govoni et al., 2008). In addition, swimmers were asked to stay away from alcohol and tobacco products and maintain their routine eating habits by being able to eat whatever they wanted throughout the study. It was reported that they should avoid consuming caffeine 24 hours before performance tests and consuming anything other than water 3 hours before the test. In addition, swimmers avoided brushing their teeth 24 hours before consumption of sugar, stimulants (e.g., caffeine), or alcohol, using mouthwash, chewing gum, which may alter the oral microbiota and interfere with NO3- reduction (López-Samanes et al., 2020).

This study was conducted in 3 stages to determine the effect of beetroot juice on anaerobic performance and fatigue in adolescent male swimmers.

Pre-Intervention: In order to determine their standard performance in the first stage before the intervention, the swimmers were subjected to the 8x100 m freestyle maximum effort swimming test at 07:00 on Saturday morning without drinking any beverages. The sets were performed in 2 minutes, and the performance times for each 100-meter run were recorded with a stopwatch. At the end of the 8x100 meter test, the blood lactate values of the swimmers were measured 1 minute later with the Lactate Pro 2 analyzer. Additionally, the Borg Fatigue scale was administered to each swimmer after lactate measurement to measure fatigue levels. After the end of the test, placebo drinks were distributed to the swimmers for the second phase.

No information was given about whether the drinks given to the swimmers were beet juice or placebo. The swimmers participating in the study were doing double training three days a week and single training on the other days except Sunday.

Placebo Intervention: In the second stage of the research, swimmers were subjected to the 8x100 m freestyle maximum effort swimming test on the same day and time of the week after consuming a placebo drink. The swimmers' blood lactate values and fatigue scale were reapplied using the same procedure. After the analysis of the results of the placebo intervention, beetroot juice drinks were distributed to the swimmers to be used in the third stage. Swimmers were asked to consume 2x250 ml of beet juice on weekdays and 1x250 ml on Saturdays before the performance test. Swimmers consumed beetroot juice 2.5 hours before training on double training days. On single training days during the week, the patient was asked to consume 2x250 ml of beetroot juice at similar times to other days.

Beetroot Juice Intervention: In the third and final stage of the study, the 8x100 meter freestyle maximum effort performance test, blood lactate test, and Borg scale were repeated to make final evaluations of beet juice consumption on the same day and time, and the study was concluded.

Statistical Analysis: While evaluating the findings obtained in the study, the IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program was used for statistical analysis. The compliance of the parameters with normal distribution was evaluated using the Shapiro-Wilks test. While evaluating the study data, in addition to descriptive statistical methods (minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation, median, frequency), the Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance test was used for intra-group comparisons of customarily distributed parameters in the comparison of quantitative data, and the Bonferroni test was used as a post hoc test. Friedman Test and Wilcoxon sign test were used as post hoc tests for intragroup comparisons of parameters that did not show normal distribution. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between parameters that conform to normal distribution, and Spearman's rho correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between parameters that do not comply with normal distribution. Significance was evaluated at p<0.05 level.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 14
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • İstanbul, Turkey
    • Istanbul Bilgi University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 13-18 ages of adolescent swimmers
• Becoming a licensed swimmer in a sports club

Exclusion Criteria:

• Adolescent swimmers with a medical condition diagnosed by a physician, following a special diet, and using regular medication

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Pre-Intervention; In order to determine their standard performance in the first stage before the intervention, the swimmers were subjected to the 8x100 m freestyle maximum effort swimming test at 07:00 on Saturday morning without drinking any beverages. The sets were performed in 2 minutes, and the performance times for each 100-meter run were recorded with a stopwatch. At the end of the 8x100 meter test, the blood lactate values of the swimmers were measured 1 minute later with the Lactate Pro 2 analyzer. Additionally, the Borg Fatigue scale was administered to each swimmer after lactate measurement to measure fatigue levels. After the end of the test, placebo drinks were distributed to the swimmers for the second phase. No information was given about whether the drinks given to the swimmers were beet juice or placebo. The swimmers participating in the study were doing double training three days a week and single training on the other days except Sunday.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Intervention; In the second stage of the research, swimmers were subjected to the 8x100 m freestyle maximum effort swimming test on the same day and time of the week after consuming a placebo drink. The swimmers' blood lactate values and fatigue scale were reapplied using the same procedure. After the analysis of the results of the placebo intervention, beetroot juice drinks were distributed to the swimmers to be used in the third stage. Swimmers were asked to consume 2x250 ml of beet juice on weekdays and 1x250 ml on Saturdays before the performance test. Swimmers consumed beetroot juice 2.5 hours before training on double training days. On single training days during the week, the patient was asked to consume 2x250 ml of beetroot juice at similar times to other days.	Other: Plesabo Drink; Plesabo drink (0,6 mmol NO3-) consumption before training at 6 days
Active Comparator: Beetroot Juice Intervention; In the third and final stage of the study, the 8x100 meter freestyle maximum effort performance test, blood lactate test, and Borg scale were repeated to make final evaluations of beet juice consumption on the same day and time, and the study was concluded.	Other: Beetroot Juice; Beetroot juice (8 mmol NO3-) consumption before training at 6 days

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Freestyle Time Trial (TT) Swimming Performance Test	Performance Test	Swimmers' 8x100 m maximum effort swimming performance times were measured and recorded for 3 weeks, before the intervention, on Saturday after consuming placebo drink and beet juice, under similar conditions.
Blood Lactate Measurement	Blood Lactate Lactate	Blood lactate measurement was measured and recorded before the intervention, after consuming placebo drink and beetroot juice, and after completing the 8x100 m maximum effort swimming performance, under similar conditions, for 3 weeks.
Borg Fatigue Scale	Fatigue	Swimmers' fatigue was measured for 3 weeks using a Borg Fatigue Scale after performance tests. Minimum and maximum score is 0-10. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul Bilgi University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Borg GA. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;14(5):377-81.
• Govoni M, Jansson EA, Weitzberg E, Lundberg JO. The increase in plasma nitrite after a dietary nitrate load is markedly attenuated by an antibacterial mouthwash. Nitric Oxide. 2008 Dec;19(4):333-7. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2008.08.003. Epub 2008 Aug 30.
• Norton KI. Standards for anthropometry assessment. In Kinanthropometry and exercise physiology. 2018; 68-137. Routledge.
• Faulkner JA. Physiology of swimming. Res Q. 1966 Mar;37(1):41-54. No abstract available.
• Lopez-Samanes A, Gomez Parra A, Moreno-Perez V, Courel-Ibanez J. Does Acute Beetroot Juice Supplementation Improve Neuromuscular Performance and Match Activity in Young Basketball Players? A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2020 Jan 9;12(1):188. doi: 10.3390/nu12010188.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): November 30, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 7, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 11, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): June 14, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 17, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 14, 2024
• Last Verified: June 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: swimming; sports nutrition; nitric oxide; beetroot
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Fatigue
• Other Study ID Numbers: BEETPERFAS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No