Clinical trial NCT06675305: Acute Effects of Beetroot Juice Ingestion on Cognitive Function and Neuromuscular Performance in Elite Female Taekwondo Athletes
Official title: Acute Effects of Beetroot Juice Ingestion on Cognitive Function and Neuromuscular Performance in Elite Female Taekwondo Athletes
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Dietary Supplements: Beetroot Juice Acute Supplementation
Dietary Supplement: Placebo Acute Supplementation
Keywords: nitrate
nitrite
neuromuscular
taekwondo
Lead sponsor: Universidad Pontificia Comillas
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
name: University of Seville
First posted: 2024-11-05
Enrollment: 7
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 16
Maximum age (years): 40
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

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.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 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.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Male taekwondo athletes.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Simulated taekwondo Combat (actions/time)
timeFrame: 1-week
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in maximal jump height (cm)
timeFrame: 1-week
measure: Reaction time (ms)
timeFrame: 1-week
measure: Blood lactate concentrations (mmol·L-1)
timeFrame: 1-week
measure: Rating of percevied exertion (RPE) (measured using scale 6-20 points)
timeFrame: 1-week
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Madrid
country: Spain
facility: Universida Pontificia Comillas
Study officials:
References: