Antioxidant-rich beetroot juice does not adversely affect acute neuromuscular adaptation following eccentric exercise.
This study examined the effects of beetroot juice on the repeated bout effect (RBE) to eccentric exercise. Twenty-nine recreationally active males performed two bouts of 100-drop jumps, separated by 14-21 days. Using a double-blind, independent groups design, participants consumed either a higher dose beetroot juice (H-BT; 250 ml, n = 10), a lower dose beetroot juice (L-BT; 125 ml, n = 9) or an isocaloric placebo (PLA; 250 ml, n = 10) for 3 days after bout 1; no drinks were consumed after bout 2. Maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC), countermovement jump (CMJ), pressure-pain threshold (PPT) and creatine kinase (CK) were measured pre, post, 24, 48 and 72 h following both bouts. In bout 2, CMJ and MIVC recovered quicker and CK activity was attenuated (versus bout 1) (P < 0.05) in all groups, demonstrating an RBE. At 24 h post bout 1, MIVC was 84.1 ± 16.1, 83.6 ± 11.6, 79.7 ± 15.1% relative to baseline values in the H-BT, L-BT and PLA groups, respectively; at 24 h post bout 2, MIVC recovered to 90.7 ± 13.7, 92.9 ± 6.9, 87.8 ± 6.9, in the H-BT, L-BT and PLA groups, respectively. These findings suggest that supplementation with antioxidant-rich beetroot juice does not adversely affect acute adaptations to a bout of eccentric exercise.
a Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation , Northumbria University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK.
Tom
T
Clifford
a Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation , Northumbria University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK.
Oliver
O
Bell
b Institute of Cellular Medicine , Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK.
Daniel J
DJ
West
a Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation , Northumbria University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK.|c Water Research Group, School of Environmental Sciences and Development , Northwest University , Potchefstroom , South Africa.
Glyn
G
Howatson
b Institute of Cellular Medicine , Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK.
Emma J
EJ
Stevenson
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000294:innervation; D063806:Myalgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D059385:Plyometric Exercise; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D003402:Creatine Kinase
Muscle damage; antioxidants; exercise adaptation; inflammation