Impact of Beetroot Supplementation in Athletes

Impact of Beetroot Supplementation on Sports Performance, Prooxidant-antioxidant Balance and Sleep in Athletes

Several previous studies observed a positive effect of beetroot supplementation on sports performance in athletes, mainly in endurance performance. However, less attention has been paid to its effects on short-duration performance, especially in youth athletes. Moreover, only a few previous investigations performed biochemical analyses, including pro-oxidant balance assessments. It is especially important because chronic nitrate intake might directly cause the production of reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species in other subcellular compartments, leading to more oxidative stress. Additionally, no previous study verified the impact of beetroot intake on sleep.

Inclusion Criteria:

• male
• good general health assessed by physician
• highly trained
• written consent to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

• medication or dietary supplements used within the previous month, which could potentially impact the study outcomes
• history of sleep nor neurological disorders
• chronic use (6 months) of any antibacterial mouthwash products.