title: Betalain-rich concentrate supplementation improves exercise performance and recovery in competitive triathletes.
abstract: We aimed to determine the effects of a betalain-rich concentrate (BRC) of beetroots, containing no sugars or nitrates, on exercise performance and recovery. Twenty-two (9 men and 13 women) triathletes (age, 38 ± 11 years) completed 2 double-blind, crossover, randomized trials (BRC and placebo) starting 7 days apart. Each trial was preceded by 6 days of supplementation with 100 mg·day-1of BRC or placebo. On the 7th day of supplementation, exercise trials commenced 120 min after ingestion of 50 mg BRC or placebo and consisted of 40 min of cycling (75 ± 5% maximal oxygen consumption) followed by a 10-km running time trial (TT). Subjects returned 24 h later to complete a 5-km running TT to assess recovery. Ten-kilometer TT duration (49.5 ± 8.9 vs. 50.8 ± 10.3 min, p = 0.03) was faster with the BRC treatment. Despite running faster, average heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion were not different between treatments. Five-kilometer TT duration (23.2 ± 4.4 vs 23.9 ± 4.7 min, p = 0.003), 24 h after the 10-km TT, was faster in 17 of the 22 subjects with the BRC treatment. Creatine kinase, a muscle damage marker, increased less (40.5 ± 22.5 vs. 49.7 ± 21.5 U·L-1, p = 0.02) from baseline to after the 10-km TT and subjective fatigue increased less (-0.05 ± 6.1 vs. 3.23 ± 6.1, p = 0.05) from baseline to 24 h after the 10-km TT with BRC. In conclusion, BRC supplementation improved 10-km TT performance in competitive male and female triathletes. Improved 5-km TT performances 24 h after the 10-km TT and the attenuated increase of creatine kinase and fatigue suggest an increase in recovery while taking BRC.
authors.affiliation: a Sports Performance Laboratory, University of California Davis Sports Medicine Program, 3301 C St., Suite 1600, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA.
authors.forename: Cristhian F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.affiliation: a Sports Performance Laboratory, University of California Davis Sports Medicine Program, 3301 C St., Suite 1600, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kwong
authors.affiliation: a Sports Performance Laboratory, University of California Davis Sports Medicine Program, 3301 C St., Suite 1600, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA.
authors.forename: Zev A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Minow
authors.affiliation: b Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of California, Davis, Medical Center, 4860 Y St., Suite 1700, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: a Sports Performance Laboratory, University of California Davis Sports Medicine Program, 3301 C St., Suite 1600, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA.
authors.forename: Christina F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lozada
authors.affiliation: a Sports Performance Laboratory, University of California Davis Sports Medicine Program, 3301 C St., Suite 1600, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA.
authors.forename: Gretchen A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Casazza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance; D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry*; D050858:Betalains / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001642:Bicycling; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005221:Fatigue / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D012420:Running; D064133:Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D050858:Betalains
keywords: beetroot; betterave; bilan abrégé de fatigue; brief fatigue inventory; contre-la-montre; creatine kinase; créatine kinase; fatigue; marqueurs des lésions musculaires; muscle damage markers; time trial