Effects of beetroot supplementation on exercise performance, cognitive task and physiological parameters among healthy adults

This thesis investigated the effects of dietary nitrate (NO₃⁻) supplementation via beetroot crystals (BRC) on exercise performance, cognitive function, and physiological parameters among healthy adults. Despite growing interest in NO₃⁻ as an ergogenic aid, inconsistencies in the literature regarding its efficacy across different populations, exercise protocols, and dosing strategies necessitated a comprehensive evaluation. The thesis addressed this through three interconnected studies. Study 1 comprised an umbrella meta-analysis of nine meta-analyses on NO₃⁻ supplementation, revealing a small but significant overall effect size (ES: 0.103, 95% CI: 0.03-0.176, p=0.06) favouring NO₃⁻ supplementation, with more pronounced benefits for aerobic endurance performance compared to anaerobic power, muscular strength, or muscular endurance. n Study 2, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design examined the effects of acute BRC supplementation (25g containing ~8.1 mmol of NO₃⁻) on intermittent exercise performance in 32 male participants stratified by fitness level. Results demonstrated significant improvements in exercise performance among untrained participants (BRC: 1087m ± 205.4 vs. PLA: 981.8m ± 137.8; p<0.05) but not in trained individuals, despite both groups exhibiting significantly elevated plasma NO₃⁻+NO₂⁻ levels. Study 3 investigated the effects of BRC supplementation on high-intensity intermittent exercise performance in a laboratory-based setting among 22 male recreational collegiate athletes, finding that BRC significantly improved time to exhaustion (BRC: 270.5 ± 138.5s vs. PLA: 231.7 ± 141.5s; p<0.05) and positively influenced blood lactate responses. Overall, this research demonstrates that acute BRC supplementation effectively enhances high-intensity intermittent exercise performance, particularly in untrained and recreational athletes, with the fitness level of individuals emerging as a crucial determinant of supplementation efficacy.

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