Acute Beetroot Juice Supplementation and Repeated Maximal Effort in Elite Swimmers: A Randomized Double-Blind Study

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Nutritional Supplementation

Background:

• Beetroot juice (BRJ) is recognized for its high nitrate content, suggesting potential ergogenic benefits.
• Limited field-based research exists on BRJ's effects in elite swimmers undertaking maximal efforts.
• Investigating BRJ's impact on swimming performance and physiological responses is crucial for athletic optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the acute effects of concentrated BRJ ingestion on elite male swimmers' performance.
• To assess physiological responses, including blood lactate and perceived exertion, during repeated maximal 200-m front-crawl efforts.
• To determine if BRJ acts as an ergogenic aid in a competition-like swimming scenario.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind, counterbalanced trial involving twelve elite male swimmers.
• Participants ingested 140 ml of concentrated BRJ or a matched placebo (PL) two hours prior to testing.
• Two maximal 200-m front-crawl time trials were performed with 60 minutes of passive recovery, with physiological data collected.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in 200-m time trial completion times were observed between BRJ and PL conditions for either the first or second trial.
• The change in performance between the two time trials did not differ significantly between the BRJ and PL groups.
• Blood lactate concentrations and ratings of perceived exertion remained comparable across both supplementation conditions (p > .05).

Conclusions:

• Acute beetroot juice supplementation does not enhance 200-m front-crawl performance in elite swimmers.
• BRJ did not significantly alter lactate responses or perceived exertion under the tested maximal effort conditions.
• The findings suggest BRJ may not be an effective ergogenic aid for elite swimmers in similar high-intensity, repeated-sprint swimming events.