Does Acute Beetroot Juice Supplementation Improve Neuromuscular Performance and Match Activity in Young Basketball Players? A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

• Main Authors: Álvaro López-Samanes, Aarón Gómez Parra, Victor Moreno-Pérez, Javier Courel-Ibáñez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-01-01
• Series: Nutrients
• Subjects: nitric oxide; match demands; gps; team sports; ergogenic aid
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/1/188

Whereas beetroot juice (BJ) supplementation is shown to increase physical performance in endurance activities, its benefits in team sports has been barely studied. In this randomized placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effects of BJ acute supplementation in improving neuromuscular performance and physical match activity in basketball. Ten young male competitive basketball players aged 15&#8722;16 years received 140 mL of BJ or placebo (PLA) on two separated days in a balanced cross-over design. Testing sessions comprised a neuromuscular test battery consisting of a countermovement jump (CMJ), isometric handgrip strength, 10-m/20-m sprint and agility T-test, followed by a 40-minute simulated basketball match. Physical match activity (distances, speeds, accelerations, and decelerations) was monitored using an inertial tracking system (Wimu Pro^TM) Results revealed no significant effects of BJ on CMJ (<i>p</i> = 0.304, ES = 0.13), isometric handgrip strength (<i>p</i> = 0.777, ES = 0.06), 10-m (<i>p</i> = 0.820, ES = 0.10), and 20-m sprint (<i>p</i> = 0.540, ES = 0.13), agility T-test (<i>p</i> = 0.979, ES &#8804; 0.01) and any physical match demands (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.151, ES = 0.13&#8722;0.48). Acute moderate doses of BJ (12.8 mmol of NO₃^&#8722;) was not effective in improving neuromuscular performance (jump height, isometric handgrip strength, sprint, and agility) or physical match requirements in young trained basketball players the day of the competition.