Effects of beetroot juice on endurance exercise performance

Abstract

The main factors that limit performance during endurance exercise are: the reduction of carbohydrate stores, the fall in blood glucose, dehydration and lack of oxygen. The beetroot juice supplementation reducesthe O2 cost of submaximal exercise and enhances tolerance to high-intensity exercise. This study aimed to investigate the effects of beetroot juice on endurance exercise performance, through the exhaustion test on the bicycle ergometer. The study in which10 men, healthy and do not have similarity with the exercise test received 500 ml per day of organic beetroot juice (100g 400ml water) for seven consecutive days before completing a series of tests. On another occasion, they were given a placebo of blackcurrant for seven consecutive days before the same tests. It was reported after the test performed increased 98 seconds (P = 0.0375) compared to placebo ingestion, revealed no significant difference between the charges for the group of individuals who ingested beets when compared to the group of individuals who ingested placebo (P = 0.1964) and in relation to heart rate after the heating step, the groups beet and control, can be considered equal (P = 0.9091). Supplementation improved NO3 time of task failure.