Beetroot Juice and Neuromuscular Performance in Female Basketball Players

NCT07833579 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 2 other identifiers: UFV_46/2018Nitra_Women Redes-CHS 2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 16
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigates the effects of 5 days of nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation (70 mL·day-¹; 6.4 mmol NO₃-·day-¹) on physical performance in female basketball players. Performance will be evaluated using jump, 30-m sprint, agility, and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) tests, while RPE and potential side effects will be assessed through questionnaires. The study aims to address the limited evidence regarding the ergogenic effects of beetroot juice supplementation in female team-sport athletes.

Conditions

Nitrate; Placebo - Control

Keywords

nitrate; beetroot; team sports; female athletes

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Changes in maximal isometric handgrip strength (N)

  Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (IMTP): Lower-body maximal isometric strength will be assessed using the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) performed on VALD ForceDecks force platforms (VALD Performance, Brisbane, Australia). Participants will adopt a standardized mid-thigh pull position with the knees and hips slightly flexed and will be instructed to pull against an immovable bar as hard and as fast as possible. Ground reaction force will be recorded by the force platforms throughout each maximal effort. Peak force will be expressed both as absolute force (N) and relative to body mass (N·kg-¹). Participants will perform maximal trials separated by an appropriate recovery period, and the best trial will be retained for analysis.

  1-week

• Changes in maximal jump height (cm)

  Maximal Jump Height: Lower-body explosive performance will be assessed using the squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJ-AS). Jump performance will be measured using an OptoJump Next system (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Participants will perform maximal-effort trials for each jump condition following standardized instructions. Maximal jump height (cm) will be recorded for each jump type, and the best performance will be retained for analysis. Changes in maximal jump height following 5 days of supplementation will be compared between the nitrate-rich beetroot juice and placebo conditions.

  1-week

• Changes in sprint time (s)

  Sprint performance will be assessed by measuring the time required to complete 10-m, 20-m, and 30-m sprints using Microgate photocell timing gates (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Participants will be instructed to sprint as fast as possible over the 30-m distance, with split times recorded at 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m. Sprint time will be recorded in seconds (s). Participants will perform maximal trials separated by an appropriate recovery period, and the best performance will be retained for analysis.

  1-week

• Changes in agility test (s)

  Modified T-Test Performance: Change-of-direction performance will be assessed using the modified T-test, with completion time measured using Microgate photocell timing gates (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Participants will be instructed to complete the standardized course as quickly as possible, incorporating forward sprinting, lateral shuffling, and backward running. Completion time will be recorded in seconds (s). Participants will perform maximal trials separated by an appropriate recovery period, and the best performance will be retained for analysis.

  1-week

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Saliva NO3- and NO2- Measurements

  1-week

• Rating of percevied exertion (RPE) (measured using scale 6-20 points)

  1-week

• Side Effects Associated With Beetroot Juice Supplementation

  1-week

Study Arms (2)

Experimental: Beetroot juice supplementation

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants consumed one serving of 70 mL of nitrate-rich BJ (6.4 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) was administered daily for 5 consecutive days. On the final supplementation day, the placebo was consumed 3 h before the testing session

Dietary Supplement: Beetroot juice supplementation

Placebo supplementation

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants consumed one 70-mL serving of nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo (0.04 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) daily for 5 consecutive days. On the final supplementation day, the placebo was consumed 3 h before the testing session.

Other: Placebo

Interventions

Placebo OTHER

Participants consumed one 70-mL serving of nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo (0.04 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) daily for 5 consecutive days.

Placebo supplementation

Beetroot juice supplementation DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants consumed one 70-mL serving of nitrate-rich BJ (6.4 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) daily for 5 consecutive days. On the final supplementation day, BJ was consumed 3 h before the testing session.

Experimental: Beetroot juice supplementation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Female basketball players aged 18-35 years.
• Currently participating in natitional competitive basketball.
• Able to complete all supplementation and testing procedures.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of any chronic disease or medical condition that could affect physical performance or interfere with the study procedures.
• Presence of any injury during the month prior to the study that could limit participation in the physical performance tests.
• Known intolerance or allergy to beetroot or other nitrate-rich vegetables (e.g., beetroot, lettuce).
• Use of medications or dietary supplements that could potentially influence nitrate metabolism or physical performance during the study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Pontificia Comillas: lead
• Universidad Francisco de Vitoria: collaborator
• Central Queensland University: collaborator
• Universidad Complutense de Madrid: collaborator
• Universidad de Cadiz: collaborator
• University of Tehran: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Universidad Pontificia Comillas

Madrid, Madrid, 20815, Spain

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Lopez-Samanes A, Perez-Lopez A, Morencos E, Munoz A, Kuhn A, Sanchez-Migallon V, Moreno-Perez V, Gonzalez-Frutos P, Bach-Faig A, Roberts J, Dominguez R. Beetroot juice ingestion does not improve neuromuscular performance and match-play demands in elite female hockey players: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Nutr. 2023 Apr;62(3):1123-1130. doi: 10.1007/s00394-022-03052-1. Epub 2022 Nov 19.

  PMID: 36401662 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Alvaro Lopez Samanes, PhD

  Universidad Pontificia Comillas

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: In addition to the participants, the investigators responsible for performance testing and data analysis will remain blinded to group allocation until completion of data collection and statistical analyses.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This study will use a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group design. Female basketball players will be randomly allocated to either a nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation group (70 mL·day-¹, providing 6.4 mmol NO₃-·day-¹) or a placebo group for 5 consecutive days. Following the supplementation period, physical performance will be assessed using jump, 30-m sprint, agility, and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) tests. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and potential supplementation-related side effects will also be assessed.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 16, 2026
• First Posted: September 22, 2026
• Study Start: September 22, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 7, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 15, 2026
• Last Updated: September 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)