Effects of Beet Juice and Diet in Female Rowers

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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The Effects of Beetroot Supplementation and Habitual Dietary Nitrate Intake on Exercise Performance in Collegiate Female Rowing Athletes

Conditions
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Dietary Habits, Nitrates, Exercise

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Beet Juice
* Dietary Supplement: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy Athletes currently on the university's rowing team Exclusion Criteria: Injuries or medical conditions that prevent participation in their team's rowing training program Diagnosis of stage 2 iron deficiency Unable to consume beet juice for any reason

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

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: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Standard Beet Juice First<br>First Test: Beet Juice / Second Test: Placebo | Dietary Supplement: Beet Juice<br>* 70 milliliter (70mL) standard Beet Juice (Beet It Sport Shot) consumed 2.5 hours before exercise test<br>Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br>* 70mL placebo Beet Juice (Beet It Sport Shot with nitrate removed) consumed 2.5 hours before exercise test<br>|
| Experimental: Placebo Beet Juice First<br>First Test: Placebo / Second Test: Beet Juice | Dietary Supplement: Beet Juice<br>* 70 milliliter (70mL) standard Beet Juice (Beet It Sport Shot) consumed 2.5 hours before exercise test<br>Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br>* 70mL placebo Beet Juice (Beet It Sport Shot with nitrate removed) consumed 2.5 hours before exercise test<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rowing Test Time | Time (seconds) to complete 500-meter rowing time trial tests. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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 | Recorded during each of the 4 500-meter intervals during rowing time trial tests on day 7 and day 14. | 
| Dietary Nitrate Habitual Consumption Amount | Mean vegetable nitrate consumption (mg/day) from two different self-administered 24-hour dietary recalls (ASA24). | 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). | 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. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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dietary nitrate, beetroot juice, sex differences, exercise, performance, muscle