Athletic Performance
Conditions
Keywords
Beetroot, Nitrates, Sports, Sports Nutrition Science
Brief summary
Beetroot is a source of nitrates, which have demonstrated various positive effects in sports, with little evidence in intermittent sports such as ball sports (including rugby). Therefore, the study's hypothesis is that it may also have an effect in these sports. For this purpose, a beetroot extract was used, a product approved by the Colombian institution in charge of product approval and registration in Colombia, the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (INVIMA). This was done to determine whether it has any effect on various physical abilities required for rugby, such as speed, acceleration, strength, and fatigue perception.
Detailed description
Currently, nitrates (from beet juices or extracts) have gained relevance due to their vasodilatory effect, which has contributed to improving athletic performance. Their use has been studied mainly in continuous sports such as swimming, cycling, athletics, etc. However, research in intermittent sports (such as ball or combat sports) is limited and inconclusive, so further research is needed on their use and effect in these sports. Therefore, the study seeks to investigate the effect of administering beet extract for three consecutive days in rugby athletes, evaluating its effect on various physical capacities required for the specific sport, such as acceleration, speed, strength, and fitness. Due to the small number of participants, a randomization process is not possible. A representative sample of 44 is required, but only 10 are interested in participating. Therefore, the sample will be selected based on the number of people willing to participate (convenience sampling) and meeting the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Each athlete is subsequently characterized and evaluated by the nutritionist, who provides instructions on how to avoid consuming foods or substances that could affect the study. They will be provided with the necessary substrates three days before the physical tests, with one group receiving the beetroot substrate and the other a placebo. The following week, the groups will be double-blinded. The physical tests will be performed by a professional physiotherapist, who will apply the test protocol and use a Borg scale to assess perceived exertion. Finally, a descriptive and exploratory analysis will be performed on the collected data, using univariate tests for the mean (Student's t-test) or Wilcoxon tests, depending on the type of variable (continuous or ordinal), with a 95% confidence level. To measure the magnitude of the treatment effect on each measured variable, Cohen's d statistic will be used for those variables that required a t-test.
Interventions
Participants receive the beetroot and placebo in the form of waffles to ensure the study is blinded, as the 6 mmol of nitrates used require a high concentration of beetroot, which is masked by the waffle ingredients and food coloring.
OTHER40 meters sprint
The participant performs a race at maximum speed with two attempts, times are taken at 10, 30 and 40 meters, to evaluate acceleration and speed, the attempt with the shortest times is the one taken for the research.
OTHERFitness test by bronco test
The participant runs a distance of 20, 40, and 60 meters, back and forth, 5 times at maximum speed. The variable to be measured is the total time taken to complete the test.
OTHERMaximal strength
Each participant performs squats and bench press to evaluate lower-body and upper-body maximal strength, thus identifying their maximum strength taken per kilogram lifted.
OTHERBorg scale
At the end of the tests, each participant is asked to evaluate their perception of fatigue by giving a number between 1 and 10, with 1 being the lowest level of fatigue and 10 being the highest.
Sponsors
Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)
Masking description
A person external to the study was tasked with providing a compound to each group and ensuring they were exchanged during the second sample collection, ensuring that both groups received both compounds (the placebo and nitrates) at the end of the study. The professional who performed the physical tests was also blinded throughout the study. Thus, participants knew they would receive a placebo and beetroot, but they were not aware of the order in which they were given the compound.
Intervention model description
The research was a quasi-experimental study using a non-randomized controlled crossover trial, minimizing the effects associated with individual athlete patterns, with each participant acting as their own control. Participants were double-blinded, dividing them into two groups. The researcher prepared placebo and beetroot waffles.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Belong to one of the two Rugby Clubs invited to participate * Legal age * Have trained/played rugby for more than 6 months.
Exclusion criteria
* Have had a sports injury in the last 6 months or during the study * Use of nutritional supplements during the study. * Use of mouthwash during the study. * Have health conditions that require specific medical treatment.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Results Obtained in the Physical Tests to Evaluate Impact on Acceleration | First and second physical tests weeks | Physical tests are performed over two different weeks. Initially, the 40-meter sprint test is performed with two attempts, with the attempt with the shortest execution time being considered. Distances from 0 to 10 meters are used to evaluate acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s\^2) |
| Speed Results Over Distance From 0 to 30 Meters in 40 Meters Sprint Test | First and second physical tests weeks | In the 40-meter speed test, the time taken to travel from the start to the 30 meters is measured in meters per second (m/s) |
| Maximum Speed Results With the Distance of 30 to 40 Meters in the 40-meter Sprint Test | First and second physical tests weeks | In the 40-meter sprint test, the time to cover from a distance of 30 meters to 40 meters is measured in meters per second (m/s) |
| Speed Given by Distance From 0 to 40 Meters Sprint | First and second physical tests weeks | Time to cover the distance from 0 to 40 meters sprint at maximum speed in meters per second (m/s) |
| Fitness Results From the Bronco Test | First and second physical tests weeks | Fitness is assessed by the time it takes to cover the 1.2 km Bronco test segmented into distances of 20, 40, and 60 meters, which are covered 5 times. |
| Maximum Strength in the Lower-body Given by Squat | First and second physical tests weeks | Squats are performed technically until reaching 1 repetition maximum (1RM) meeting technical requirements. |
| Maximum Upper-body Strength Given by Bench Press Test | First and second physical tests weeks | Maximum weight lifted in 1 maximum repetition in a technically correct manner in the bench press exercise |
| Perception of Fatigue Given by the Borg Scale | First and second weeks at the end of the physical tests | According to a score of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest level of fatigue, participants evaluated their perception at the end of the physical tests. |
Countries
Colombia
Participant flow
Recruitment details
Following approval by the ethics committee, two rugby groups located in Bogotá, Colombia, were contacted. The project was explained, questions answered, and an invitation to participate was extended. Two weeks before the physical tests, an initial screening was conducted with those interested to verify compliance with inclusion and exclusion criteria. Informed consent was obtained. Instructions were also given, such as not using mouthwash and a list of nitrate-rich foods to avoid.
Pre-assignment details
Before the assignment, a nutritional assessment was performed, verifying inclusion and exclusion criteria, as well as educating about the nitrate washout period and the use of mouthwash that may affect the research. Thus, it was recommended not to consume foods rich in nitrates from 3 days before the study until its completion. A list of these foods was provided and the requirement to not use mouthwash during the same period.
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Placebo-Beetroot The group receives the placebo the first week and the following week they receive the beetroot
beetroot juice - Placebo: Participants receive the beetroot and placebo in the form of waffles to ensure the study is blinded, as the 6 mmol of nitrates used require a high concentration of beetroot, which is masked by the waffle ingredients and food coloring.
40 meters sprint: The participant performs a race at maximum speed with two attempts, times are taken at 10, 30 and 40 meters, to evaluate acceleration and speed, the attempt with the shortest times is the one taken for the research.
Fitness test by bronco test: The participant runs a distance of 20, 40, and 60 meters, back and forth, 5 times at maximum speed. The variable to be measured is the total time taken to complete the test.
Maximal strength: Each participant performs squats and bench press to evaluate lower-body and upper-body maximal strength, thus identifying their maximum strength taken per kilogram lifted.
Borg scale: At the end of the tests, each participant is asked to evaluate their perception of fatigue by giving a number between 1 and 10, with 1 being the lowest level of fatigue and 10 being the highest. | 5 |
| Beetroot-Placebo The group receives the beetroot the first week and the following week receives the placebo.
beetroot juice - Placebo: Participants receive the beetroot and placebo in the form of waffles to ensure the study is blinded, as the 6 mmol of nitrates used require a high concentration of beetroot, which is masked by the waffle ingredients and food coloring.
40 meters sprint: The participant performs a race at maximum speed with two attempts, times are taken at 10, 30 and 40 meters, to evaluate acceleration and speed, the attempt with the shortest times is the one taken for the research.
Fitness test by bronco test: The participant runs a distance of 20, 40, and 60 meters, back and forth, 5 times at maximum speed. The variable to be measured is the total time taken to complete the test.
Maximal strength: Each participant performs squats and bench press to evaluate lower-body and upper-body maximal strength, thus identifying their maximum strength taken per kilogram lifted.
Borg scale: At the end of the tests, each participant is asked to evaluate their perception of fatigue by giving a number between 1 and 10, with 1 being the lowest level of fatigue and 10 being the highest. | 5 |
| Total | 10 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Total | Placebo-Beetroot | Beetroot-Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 24 years | 22.4 years | 25.6 years |
| Race and Ethnicity Not Collected | 0 Participants | — | — |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 5 Participants | 3 Participants | 2 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 5 Participants | 2 Participants | 3 Participants |
| Time training rugby | 5.2 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.3 | 2.8 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.9 | 7.6 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.8 |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 5 | 0 / 5 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 0 | 0 / 0 |
Outcome results
Primary
Fitness Results From the Bronco Test
Fitness is assessed by the time it takes to cover the 1.2 km Bronco test segmented into distances of 20, 40, and 60 meters, which are covered 5 times.
Time frame: First and second physical tests weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo-Beetroot | Fitness Results From the Bronco Test | Placebo | 6.08 Minutes |
| Placebo-Beetroot | Fitness Results From the Bronco Test | Beetroot | 5.95 Minutes |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Fitness Results From the Bronco Test | Placebo | 5.60 Minutes |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Fitness Results From the Bronco Test | Beetroot | 5.54 Minutes |
p-value: 0.0422t-test, 2 sided
Primary
Maximum Speed Results With the Distance of 30 to 40 Meters in the 40-meter Sprint Test
In the 40-meter sprint test, the time to cover from a distance of 30 meters to 40 meters is measured in meters per second (m/s)
Time frame: First and second physical tests weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo-Beetroot | Maximum Speed Results With the Distance of 30 to 40 Meters in the 40-meter Sprint Test | Placebo | 7.74 m/s |
| Placebo-Beetroot | Maximum Speed Results With the Distance of 30 to 40 Meters in the 40-meter Sprint Test | Beetroot | 7.47 m/s |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Maximum Speed Results With the Distance of 30 to 40 Meters in the 40-meter Sprint Test | Placebo | 8.06 m/s |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Maximum Speed Results With the Distance of 30 to 40 Meters in the 40-meter Sprint Test | Beetroot | 8.02 m/s |
p-value: 0.4166t-test, 2 sided
Primary
Maximum Strength in the Lower-body Given by Squat
Squats are performed technically until reaching 1 repetition maximum (1RM) meeting technical requirements.
Time frame: First and second physical tests weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo-Beetroot | Maximum Strength in the Lower-body Given by Squat | Placebo | 101.25 kilograms (kg) |
| Placebo-Beetroot | Maximum Strength in the Lower-body Given by Squat | Beetroot | 108.75 kilograms (kg) |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Maximum Strength in the Lower-body Given by Squat | Placebo | 116.0 kilograms (kg) |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Maximum Strength in the Lower-body Given by Squat | Beetroot | 120.0 kilograms (kg) |
p-value: 0.0027t-test, 2 sided
Primary
Maximum Upper-body Strength Given by Bench Press Test
Maximum weight lifted in 1 maximum repetition in a technically correct manner in the bench press exercise
Time frame: First and second physical tests weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo-Beetroot | Maximum Upper-body Strength Given by Bench Press Test | Placebo | 49.4 kilograms (kg) |
| Placebo-Beetroot | Maximum Upper-body Strength Given by Bench Press Test | Beetroot | 52.8 kilograms (kg) |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Maximum Upper-body Strength Given by Bench Press Test | Placebo | 72.2 kilograms (kg) |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Maximum Upper-body Strength Given by Bench Press Test | Beetroot | 71.2 kilograms (kg) |
p-value: 0.2598t-test, 2 sided
Primary
Perception of Fatigue Given by the Borg Scale
According to a score of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest level of fatigue, participants evaluated their perception at the end of the physical tests.
Time frame: First and second weeks at the end of the physical tests
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo-Beetroot | Perception of Fatigue Given by the Borg Scale | Placebo | 4.6 units on a scale from 1 to 10 |
| Placebo-Beetroot | Perception of Fatigue Given by the Borg Scale | Beetroot | 4.8 units on a scale from 1 to 10 |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Perception of Fatigue Given by the Borg Scale | Beetroot | 3.6 units on a scale from 1 to 10 |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Perception of Fatigue Given by the Borg Scale | Placebo | 5.0 units on a scale from 1 to 10 |
p-value: 0.1725Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney)
Primary
Results Obtained in the Physical Tests to Evaluate Impact on Acceleration
Physical tests are performed over two different weeks. Initially, the 40-meter sprint test is performed with two attempts, with the attempt with the shortest execution time being considered. Distances from 0 to 10 meters are used to evaluate acceleration in meters per second squared (m/s\^2)
Time frame: First and second physical tests weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo-Beetroot | Results Obtained in the Physical Tests to Evaluate Impact on Acceleration | Placebo | 1.76 m/s^2 |
| Placebo-Beetroot | Results Obtained in the Physical Tests to Evaluate Impact on Acceleration | Beetroot | 2.08 m/s^2 |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Results Obtained in the Physical Tests to Evaluate Impact on Acceleration | Placebo | 2.44 m/s^2 |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Results Obtained in the Physical Tests to Evaluate Impact on Acceleration | Beetroot | 2.19 m/s^2 |
p-value: 0.8705t-test, 2 sided
Primary
Speed Given by Distance From 0 to 40 Meters Sprint
Time to cover the distance from 0 to 40 meters sprint at maximum speed in meters per second (m/s)
Time frame: First and second physical tests weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo-Beetroot | Speed Given by Distance From 0 to 40 Meters Sprint | Placebo | 6.00 m/s |
| Placebo-Beetroot | Speed Given by Distance From 0 to 40 Meters Sprint | Beetroot | 6.17 m/s |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Speed Given by Distance From 0 to 40 Meters Sprint | Placebo | 6.78 m/s |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Speed Given by Distance From 0 to 40 Meters Sprint | Beetroot | 6.61 m/s |
p-value: 0.9995t-test, 2 sided
Primary
Speed Results Over Distance From 0 to 30 Meters in 40 Meters Sprint Test
In the 40-meter speed test, the time taken to travel from the start to the 30 meters is measured in meters per second (m/s)
Time frame: First and second physical tests weeks
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo-Beetroot | Speed Results Over Distance From 0 to 30 Meters in 40 Meters Sprint Test | Placebo | 5.61 m/s |
| Placebo-Beetroot | Speed Results Over Distance From 0 to 30 Meters in 40 Meters Sprint Test | Beetroot | 5.85 m/s |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Speed Results Over Distance From 0 to 30 Meters in 40 Meters Sprint Test | Beetroot | 6.25 m/s |
| Beetroot-Placebo | Speed Results Over Distance From 0 to 30 Meters in 40 Meters Sprint Test | Placebo | 6.46 m/s |
p-value: 0.9161t-test, 2 sided