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The Effect of Beetroot Powder on Exercise Performance in Competitive Swimmers

NCT07662460 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 21

Last updated 2026-06-23

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Swimming requires high energy in a short time and involves overcoming water resistance. Besides regular training, swimmers use supplements to enhance performance, correct nutrient deficiencies, and speed recovery. The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) classifies supplements by evidence level, with nitrate in Group A. Nitrate aids vasodilation and muscle performance via conversion to nitric oxide (NO).

About 25% of dietary nitrate converts to nitrite by oral bacteria, then to NO in the stomach-a valuable oxygen-independent pathway. NO improves exercise by enhancing oxygen efficiency, muscle contraction, and affecting type II fibers. Timing, dose, nitrate source, and individual traits influence its effect. Beetroot, rich in nitrate, is practical as juice for storage and consumption.

Beetroot gels and juices raise plasma nitrate 1-3 hours post-consumption, effective during 10-17 minute exercises. Some studies found no improvement in short-distance swimming, but others reported dose-dependent benefits. Meta-analyses recommend 5-14.9 mmol nitrate ≥150 minutes before acute exercise, and 5-9.9 mmol for chronic intake. Highly trained athletes may need ≥6-8 mmol NO₃-.

JECFA and the European Commission set acceptable daily intake (ADI) at 0-3.7 mg/kg body weight nitrate ion, safe for all ages.

No long-term, controlled studies exist on beetroot powder's effect in swimmers. To address this, a randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind crossover study was designed to evaluate beetroot powder supplementation's impact on competitive swimmers' performance, potentially contributing valuable knowledge.

Conditions

  • Competitive Swimmer
  • Beetroot Powder

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Beetroot Powder

1.5 g of beetroot powder (equivalent to 10 mmol nitrate) administered as a jelly candy.

OTHER

Placebo

Color-matched, nitrate-free jelly candy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Halic University

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
24 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-12-22
Primary Completion
2026-05-22
Completion
2026-06-01

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07662460 on ClinicalTrials.gov