The Effects of Nitrate Supplementation on Elite Runners

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

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03449992

Enrollment

Registered

2018-03-01

Start date

2016-11-01

Completion date

2017-11-15

Last updated

2018-03-01

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

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

Brief summary

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

Detailed description

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

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTnitrate-rich beetroot juice

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation was administered for 15 consecutive days to participants in this arm

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo

Placebo drink

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

OTHER

Masking

TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Twelve participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a placebo group, and a 4 digits code based on their Spanish ID card were used to code their names. Then, an independent researcher prepared individual bags with either a 15-days worth of placebo drinks or beetroot drinks, and gave it to the athletes. Then, this person was withdrawn for the research procedures. Finally, another group of researchers, without knowing what athlete was on each group (intervention or placebo), conducted the performance tests pre and post 15 days of supplementation, and another group analyzed the data once collected.

Intervention 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.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Competing in national and international events * Personal best in urban 10k: 33 minutes 0 seconds

Exclusion criteria

* Injury

Design outcomes

Primary

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

Secondary

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

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026