Acute Effects of Beetroot Juice Ingestion on Cognitive Function and Neuromuscular Performance in Elite Female Taekwondo Athletes
- Conditions
- Dietary Supplements: Beetroot Juice Acute SupplementationDietary Supplement: Placebo Acute Supplementation
- Registration Number
- NCT06675305
- Lead Sponsor
- Universidad Pontificia Comillas
- Brief Summary
Beetroot juice is a good source of nitrate (NO3-), which is a precursor of nitric oxide (NO) through the NO3- to nitrite (NO2-) to NO pathway (Lundberg et al., 2008). Consequently, it is thought that a minimum threshold may exist for dietary NO3- consumption of at least 5 mmol to enhance athletic performance (Senefeld et al., 2020). In turn, systematic reviews have documented that the use of beetroot juice supplementation enhances muscle strength and power-related attributes (Gonzalez et al., 2023), as well as performance in repeated high-intensity activity bouts (Alsharif et al., 2023; Dominguez et al., 2018). However, beetroot juice supplementation has been shown to have equivocal effects on neuromuscular performance specifically among individual sport athletes (e.g. taekwondo). Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of acute beetroot juice ingestion (140 mL, 12.8 mmol NO3-) on neuromuscular performance in elite female taekwondo athletes.
- Detailed Description
Beetroot juice is a good source of nitrate (NO3-), which is a precursor of nitric oxide (NO) through the NO3- to nitrite (NO2-) to NO pathway (Lundberg et al., 2008). This pathway is thought to promote increased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release and re-uptake with ensuing enhancements in force output within type II muscle fibers (Hernandez et al., 2012), as well as increased neurotransmitter release (Esen et al., 2022) and attenuated muscle potassium efflux (Wylie et al., 2013) that could benefit neuromuscular performance. Consequently, it is thought that a minimum threshold may exist for dietary NO3- consumption of at least 5 mmol to enhance athletic performance (Senefeld et al., 2020). In turn, systematic reviews have documented that the use of beetroot juice supplementation enhances muscle strength and power-related attributes (Gonzalez et al., 2023), as well as performance in repeated high-intensity activity bouts (Alsharif et al., 2023; Dominguez et al., 2018). However, beetroot juice supplementation has been shown to have equivocal effects on neuromuscular performance specifically among individual sport athletes (e.g. taekwondo). Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of acute beetroot juice ingestion (140 mL, 12.8 mmol NO3-) on neuromuscular performance in elite female taekwondo athletes.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 7
- Age between 16 to 40 years
- Competed in international taekwondo competitions representing her national teams.
- More than6 years of training experience (at least 3 sessions per week).
- Female taekwondo athletes.
- Male taekwondo athletes.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Simulated taekwondo Combat (actions/time) 1-week Simulated taekwondo combat were performed according to the guidelines of the World Taekwondo (WT), and participants were divided based in the Olympic weight categories (WT, 2016). All the combats were executed in an official octagonal and homologated competition area while an international referee (who doesn´t know the experimental treatments) arbitrated. Today the rules of WTF led to use electronic protectors as protecting of athletes and identify electronically the punctuations (Del Vecchio, Franchini, Del Vecchio, \& Pieter, 2011). Variables analyzed were attack time (AT), step time (ST), pause time (PT), period without attack (PWA = ST+PT), numbers of attacks (AN), the ratio for attack time and step time (R1 = AT/ST), and ratio for action time and step time (R2 = (AT+ST) /PT).
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Changes in maximal jump height (cm) 1-week Maximal jump height using a contact platform
Reaction time (ms) 1-week Reaction times in a specific reaction test with BlazePod ((Play Coyotta Ltd., Tel Aviv, Israel)
Blood lactate concentrations (mmol·L-1) 1-week Previous to the warm-up, just to the end of the simulated combat, and 3 minutes after, a researcher extracted a blood sample of the pad of the index finger of the left hand of the participants.
Rating of percevied exertion (RPE) (measured using scale 6-20 points) 1-week Immediately after each one of the 3 assaults, participants were asked for providing her RPE using a Borg scale from 6 to 20 points
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Universida Pontificia Comillas
🇪🇸Madrid, Spain