The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation on exercise performance in female rowers when accounting for habitual vegetable nitrate consumption.
The objective is to use a stratified block randomization, double-blind crossover trial to test rowing ergometer exercise performance after drinking a beetroot juice supplement and compare it to the same test after consuming a placebo (a nitrate-free version of the beetroot juice supplement) in a convenience sample of athletes from a single Division 1-A collegiate women's rowing team. Before testing, the participants' habitual vegetable nitrate consumption will be assessed from their report of foods consumed in the past 24 hours. Estimates of dietary nitrate intake will be calculated from the quantity of vegetables consumed and used to determine whether dietary nitrate intake influences the efficacy of the beetroot juice supplement.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
15
70 milliliter (70mL) standard Beet Juice (Beet It Sport Shot) consumed 2.5 hours before exercise test
70mL placebo Beet Juice (Beet It Sport Shot with nitrate removed) consumed 2.5 hours before exercise test
University of Kansas Rowing Boathouse
Lawrence, Kansas, United States
Rowing Test Time
Time (seconds) to complete 500-meter rowing time trial tests.
Time frame: Recorded immediately upon completion of each of the 4 500-meter intervals during rowing time trial tests on day 7 and day 14.
Rowing Test Perceived Exertion
Rating of perceived exertion reported by participant during rowing time trial tests. The Borg Scale is used, in which participants choose a number between 6 ("Rest") and 20 ("Maximal Effort") to indicate their perceived exertion at the completion of each 500-meter segment.
Time frame: Recorded immediately upon completion of each of the 4 500-meter intervals during rowing time trial tests on day 7 and day 14.
Rowing Test Peak Heart Rate
Maximum heart rate (beats per minute) during 500-meter rowing time trial tests. The Maximum is the single highest heart rate recorded during that 500-meter interval.
Time frame: Recorded during each of the 4 500-meter intervals during rowing time trial tests on day 7 and day 14.
Rowing Test Average Heart Rate
Mean heart rate (beets per minute) during 500-meter rowing time trial tests.
Time frame: Recorded during each of the 4 500-meter intervals during rowing time trial tests on day 7 and day 14.
Rowing Test Peak Power Output
Maximum power (watts) during 500-meter rowing time trial tests
Time frame: Recorded during each of the 4 500-meter intervals during rowing time trial tests on day 7 and day 14.
Rowing Test Average Power Output
Mean power (watts) during 500-meter rowing time trial tests
Time frame: Recorded during each of the 4 500-meter intervals during rowing time trial tests on day 7 and day 14.
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Dietary Nitrate Habitual Consumption Amount
Mean vegetable nitrate consumption (mg/day) from two different self-administered 24-hour dietary recalls (ASA24).
Time frame: Collected after each rowing time trial test for the preceding 24-hour period (day 6 and day 13). Means determined in post-testing analysis.
Dietary Nitrate Habitual Consumption Category
Categorization of Dietary Nitrate Habitual Consumption Amount. The median of all participants' Amounts will be determined to categorize each participant as "high" (above median) or "low (below median).
Time frame: Collected after each rowing time trial test for the preceding 24-hour period (day 6 and day 13). Median and categories determined in post-testing analysis.