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Negligible Effects of Nutraceuticals from Beetroot Extract on Cardiovascular and Autonomic Recovery Response following Submaximal Aerobic Exercise in Physically Active Healthy Males: A Randomized Trial.

  • 2023-02-23
  • International journal of environmental research and public health 20(5)
    • Cicero Jonas R Benjamim
    • Francisco Welington de Sousa Júnior
    • Andrey Alves Porto
    • Camila Venancia Guerra Andrade
    • Maria Íris L Saraiva de Figueiredo
    • Cicera Josilânia R Benjamim
    • Guilherme da Silva Rodrigues
    • Elida M Braga Rocha
    • Taisy Ferro Cavalcante
    • David M Garner
    • Vitor Engracia Valenti
    • Carlos R Bueno Júnior

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
Sixteen healthy male adults
Methods
cross-over, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial; Beetroot extract (600 mg) or placebo (600 mg) ingested 120 min prior to evaluation
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
60 min of recovery

Background

There is little evidence that nutraceuticals from beetroot extract are beneficial with regards to recovery of the cardiovascular parameters and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) after submaximal aerobic exercise, though this formulation is employed widely for this purpose.

Objective

To study the effects of beetroot extract supplementation on the recovery of cardiorespiratory and autonomic parameters after a session of submaximal aerobic exercise.

Methods

Sixteen healthy male adults commenced a cross-over, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. Beetroot extract (600 mg) or placebo (600 mg) were ingested 120 min prior to evaluation on randomized days. We assessed systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) indexes at Rest and during 60 min of recovery from submaximal aerobic exercise.

Results

Beetroot extract ingestion slightly accelerated HR, SBP, DBP and MAP reduction following exercise associated to the placebo protocol (vs. rest). Yet no group effect (p = 0.99) was identified between the beetroot and placebo protocols on HR mean, in addition to interaction (group vs. time) (p = 0.60). No group effect was attained between the SBP (p = 0.90), DBP (p = 0.88), MAP (p = 0.73) and PP (p = 0.99) protocols and no significant differences (group vs. time) were observed between the values of SBP (p = 0.75), DBP (p = 0.79), MAP (p = 0.93) and PP (p = 0.63) between placebo and beetroot protocols. Similarly, the reoccurrence of cardiac vagal modulation after exercise via the HF (ms2) was enhanced, but not with regards to the RMSSD index. No group effect (p = 0.99) was identified for the HF (p = 0.90) and RMSSD (p = 0.67) indices. Likewise, we observed no significant differences (group vs. time) amongst the values of HF (p = 0.69) and RMSSD (p = 0.95) between the placebo and beetroot protocols.

Conclusion

Whilst beetroot extract might assist the recovery of the cardiovascular and autonomic systems following submaximal aerobic exercise in healthy males, these results seem insignificant owing to minor differences between interventions and are weak clinically.

Research Insights

  • Red Beet→Improved Heart Rate Variability

    No group effect (p = 0.99) was identified for the ... RMSSD (p = 0.67) indices. Likewise, we observed no significant differences (group vs. time) amongst the values of ... RMSSD (p = 0.95)

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    600 mg
  • Red Beet→Reduced Diastolic Blood Pressure

    No group effect was attained between the ... DBP (p = 0.88) ... and no significant differences (group vs. time) were observed

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    600 mg
  • Red Beet→Reduced Heart Rate

    no group effect (p = 0.99) was identified between the beetroot and placebo protocols on HR mean, in addition to interaction (group vs. time) (p = 0.60)

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    600 mg
  • Red Beet→Reduced Mean Arterial Pressure

    No group effect was attained between the ... MAP (p = 0.73) ... and no significant differences (group vs. time) were observed

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    600 mg
  • Red Beet→Reduced Pulse Pressure

    No group effect was attained between the ... PP (p = 0.99) protocols and no significant differences (group vs. time) were observed

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    600 mg
  • Red Beet→Reduced Systolic Blood Pressure

    No group effect was attained between the SBP (p = 0.90) ... and no significant differences (group vs. time) were observed

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    600 mg
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