Effect of Beetroot Nitrates on Different Physical Skills in Colombian Rugby Athletes

NCT07106489 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 65891
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 10
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Athletic Performance

Keywords

Beetroot; Nitrates; Sports; Sports Nutrition Science

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (8)

• 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)

  First and second physical tests weeks

• 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)

  First and second physical tests weeks

• 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)

  First and second physical tests weeks

• 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)

  First and second physical tests weeks

• 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.

  First and second physical tests weeks

• Maximum Strength in the Lower-body Given by Squat

  Squats are performed technically until reaching 1 repetition maximum (1RM) meeting technical requirements.

  First and second physical tests weeks

• 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

  First and second physical tests weeks

• 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.

  First and second weeks at the end of the physical tests

Study Arms (2)

Placebo-Beetroot

OTHER

The group receives the placebo the first week and the following week they receive the beetroot

Other: beetroot juice - Placebo; Other: 40 meters sprint; Other: Fitness test by bronco test; Other: Maximal strength; Other: Borg scale

Beetroot-Placebo

OTHER

The group receives the beetroot the first week and the following week receives the placebo.

Other: beetroot juice - Placebo; Other: 40 meters sprint; Other: Fitness test by bronco test; Other: Maximal strength; Other: Borg scale

Interventions

beetroot juice - Placebo OTHER

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.

Beetroot-Placebo; Placebo-Beetroot

40 meters sprint OTHER

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.

Beetroot-Placebo; Placebo-Beetroot

Fitness test by bronco test OTHER

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.

Beetroot-Placebo; Placebo-Beetroot

Maximal strength OTHER

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.

Beetroot-Placebo; Placebo-Beetroot

Borg scale OTHER

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.

Beetroot-Placebo; Placebo-Beetroot

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Belong to one of the two Rugby Clubs invited to participate
• Legal age
• Have trained/played rugby for more than 6 months.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Nacional de Colombia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Bogotá, Colombia

Location

Related Publications (13)

• Thompson C, Vanhatalo A, Jell H, Fulford J, Carter J, Nyman L, Bailey SJ, Jones AM. Dietary nitrate supplementation improves sprint and high-intensity intermittent running performance. Nitric Oxide. 2016 Dec 30;61:55-61. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2016.10.006. Epub 2016 Oct 21.

  PMID: 27777094 BACKGROUND

• Tan R, Pennell A, Karl ST, Cass JK, Go K, Clifford T, Bailey SJ, Perkins Storm C. Effects of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Back Squat and Bench Press Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2023 May 27;15(11):2493. doi: 10.3390/nu15112493.

  PMID: 37299456 BACKGROUND

• Tan R, Cano L, Lago-Rodriguez A, Dominguez R. The Effects of Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on Explosive Exercise Performance: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 11;19(2):762. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19020762.

  PMID: 35055584 BACKGROUND

• Senefeld JW, Wiggins CC, Regimbal RJ, Dominelli PB, Baker SE, Joyner MJ. Ergogenic Effect of Nitrate Supplementation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020 Oct;52(10):2250-2261. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002363.

  PMID: 32936597 BACKGROUND

• Salem A, Ammar A, Kerkeni M, Boujelbane MA, Uyar AM, Kobel LM, Selvaraj S, Zare R, Heinrich KM, Jahrami H, Tounsi S, Zmijewski P, Schollhorn WI, Trabelsi K, Chtourou H. Short-Term Beetroot Juice Supplementation Enhances Strength, Reduces Fatigue, and Promotes Recovery in Physically Active Individuals: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Trial. Nutrients. 2025 May 19;17(10):1720. doi: 10.3390/nu17101720.

  PMID: 40431460 BACKGROUND

• Murphy MJ, Rushing BR, Sumner SJ, Hackney AC. Dietary Supplements for Athletic Performance in Women: Beta-Alanine, Caffeine, and Nitrate. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2022 Feb 23;32(4):311-323. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0176. Print 2022 Jul 1.

  PMID: 35196646 BACKGROUND

• Miraftabi H, Avazpoor Z, Berjisian E, Sarshin A, Rezaei S, Dominguez R, Reale R, Franchini E, Samanipour MH, Koozehchian MS, Willems MET, Rafiei R, Naderi A. Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Cognitive Function, Aerobic and Anaerobic Performances of Trained Male Taekwondo Athletes: A Pilot Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 28;18(19):10202. doi: 10.3390/ijerph181910202.

  PMID: 34639501 BACKGROUND

• Lopez-Samanes A, Ramos-Alvarez JJ, Miguel-Tobal F, Gaos S, Jodra P, Arranz-Munoz R, Dominguez R, Montoya JJ. Influence of Beetroot Juice Ingestion on Neuromuscular Performance on Semi-Professional Female Rugby Players: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Foods. 2022 Nov 12;11(22):3614. doi: 10.3390/foods11223614.

  PMID: 36429210 BACKGROUND

• Jones AM, Vanhatalo A, Seals DR, Rossman MJ, Piknova B, Jonvik KL. Dietary Nitrate and Nitric Oxide Metabolism: Mouth, Circulation, Skeletal Muscle, and Exercise Performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021 Feb 1;53(2):280-294. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002470.

  PMID: 32735111 BACKGROUND

• Esen O, Karayigit R, Peart DJ. Acute beetroot juice supplementation did not enhance intermittent running performance in trained rugby players. Eur J Sport Sci. 2023 Dec;23(12):2321-2328. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2023.2230942. Epub 2023 Jul 13.

  PMID: 37394944 BACKGROUND

• d'Unienville NMA, Blake HT, Coates AM, Hill AM, Nelson MJ, Buckley JD. Effect of food sources of nitrate, polyphenols, L-arginine and L-citrulline on endurance exercise performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Dec 29;18(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00472-y.

  PMID: 34965876 BACKGROUND

• Dominguez R, Mate-Munoz JL, Cuenca E, Garcia-Fernandez P, Mata-Ordonez F, Lozano-Estevan MC, Veiga-Herreros P, da Silva SF, Garnacho-Castano MV. Effects of beetroot juice supplementation on intermittent high-intensity exercise efforts. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018 Jan 5;15:2. doi: 10.1186/s12970-017-0204-9. eCollection 2018.

  PMID: 29311764 BACKGROUND

• Delleli S, Ouergui I, Messaoudi H, Trabelsi K, Glenn JM, Ammar A, Chtourou H. Does Beetroot Supplementation Improve Performance in Combat Sports Athletes? A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2023 Jan 12;15(2):398. doi: 10.3390/nu15020398.

  PMID: 36678270 BACKGROUND

Limitations and Caveats

Recruiting a sample size was difficult; there aren't many rugby players in Colombia, and personal schedules didn't fit the study. Furthermore, it's a sport prone to recurrent injuries due to its high impact, so several participants withdrew due to injuries unrelated to the study, limiting the sample size. The speed tests were measured subjectively, although they were performed with trained individuals; it would have been better to use technology to achieve greater accuracy.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Leidy Tatiana Reyes Vega
• Organization: Universidad Nacional de Colombia

ltreyesv@unal.edu.co

+573016971711

Study Officials

• Ligia S Guerrero, PhD. MSc. ND

  Universidad Nacional de Colombia

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: 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.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD. MSc. ND. Professor

Model Details: 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.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2025
• First Posted: August 6, 2025
• Study Start: February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 5, 2025
• Study Completion: March 13, 2025
• Last Updated: December 12, 2025
• Results First Posted: December 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, CSR
• Time Frame: Beginning once the scientific article is been accepted and with no end date
• Access Criteria: The criteria given by the chosen journal will be taken into account

Locations

CO (1)