The Effects of Nitrate Supplementation on Elite Runners

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study analyzed the effects of 15 days of beetroot juice supplementation on different performance measures in elite Spanish distance runners

Detailed Description
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This study analyzed the effects of 15 days beetroot juice supplementation on the VO2max, running economy, exercise perceived exertion, muscle power and locomotion mechanics in a group of 12 elite Spanish middle and long distance runners

Official Title
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The Effects of Beet-root Juice Supplementation on Exercise Economy, Rating of Perceived Exertion and Running Mechanics in Elite Distance Runners

Conditions
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Nutrition, Physical Performance, Sport Physiology, Nitrates, Elite Athletes

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: nitrate-rich beetroot juice
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Competing in national and international events Personal best in urban 10k: 33 minutes 0 seconds Exclusion Criteria: Injury
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Twelve elite distance runners were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a placebo group. Participants in each group consumed beetroot juice or a placebo drink for 15 consecutive days.
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention group<br>Participants in this group ingested nitrate-rich beetroot juice for 15 days | Dietary Supplement: nitrate-rich beetroot juice<br>* Nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation was administered for 15 consecutive days to participants in this arm<br>* Other names: Beetroot juice;|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo group<br>Participants in this group ingested a placebo drink for 15 days | Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br>* Placebo drink<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Running economy | The cost of running (oxygen consumption) at different speeds | Changes from baseline at 15 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time to exhaustion | Time that the athlete endured running until voluntarily ending the exercise | Changes from baseline at 15 days | 
| Muscle power | Ability to produce muscle power in a jump test | Changes from baseline at 15 days | 
| Muscle oxygenation | Saturation of O2 in the vastus lateralis during exercise | Changes from baseline at 15 days | 
| RPE | Rate of perceived exertion during the exercise | Changes from baseline at 15 days | 
| Running mechanics | Contact and flight time of each step during the exercise | Changes from baseline at 15 days |