The Effect of Acute Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Anaerobic Performance in Football Players

Melike Nur Eroğlu16 enrolled

Overview

The aim of this clinical trial is to examine the effects of two different natural fruit-vegetable blend beverages on short-duration, high-intensity exercise performance and muscle oxygenation in young male football players. The study also investigates how these beverages influence certain metabolic responses. The main questions it seeks to answer are: * Does one of the beverages improve peak and mean power output during the Wingate test? * How do these beverages affect muscle oxygenation and post-exercise recovery? * Researchers will compare the effects of the two beverages on performance and metabolic markers. Participants: * Consume one of the two natural beverages 2.5 hours before testing (assigned at random) * Perform a 30-second high-intensity Wingate cycling test * Undergo measurements of muscle oxygenation, heart rate, blood pressure, blood lactate, and blood glucose during and after exercise * Maintain consistent dietary and physical activity routines and avoid certain foods prior to testing

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Exercise Performance Supplementation

Interventions

Beetroot Juice (BJ)DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

This intervention involves a single 140 mL dose of a commercially available concentrated beetroot juice supplement (Beet-It Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., UK), containing approximately 12.8 mmol (800 mg) of dietary nitrate. Participants consume the juice 2.5 hours prior to performing a 30-second Wingate anaerobic test. The purpose of this intervention is to examine its acute effects on anaerobic performance, muscle oxygenation, and metabolic responses.

Blackcurrant Juice (Placebo)DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

This intervention involves a single 140 mL dose of a low-calorie blackcurrant juice (Pfanner, Austria) with negligible nitrate content (\<0.1 mmol). The placebo is matched to beetroot juice in appearance, taste, and packaging to ensure double-blind conditions. It is consumed 2.5 hours before the Wingate test and serves as the control condition.

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 19 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy males over 18 years old * Performing resistance exercise at least three times per week * At least 5 years of football training experience Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to Wingate exercise * Presence of cardiometabolic disease * Current use of ergogenic supplementation * Smokers

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Mean power output during the 30-second Wingate anaerobic test

Average power (in watts) generated during the 30-second Wingate cycling test will be compared between beetroot juice and placebo conditions to assess anaerobic performance.

Time frame: Day 1 (2.5 hours after supplementation, during Wingate test)

Secondary Outcomes

Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂)

SmO₂ will be assessed using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) on the vastus lateralis muscle. Measurements will be taken continuously before, during, and after the 30-second Wingate anaerobic test to evaluate changes in muscle oxygenation in response to the intervention.

Time frame: Day 1 (pre-, during, and post-exercise on the day of Wingate test)