Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Power Output during Resistance Exercise in Resistance-Trained Women

Dietary nitrate supplementation has been reported to enhance explosive-type movements, but our understanding of the ergogenic potential of nitrate in resistance exercise and women is understudied. PURPOSE: To investigate if dietary nitrate, provided as nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR), improved resistance exercise performance compared to nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (PL) in resistance-trained women. METHODS: Eighteen resistance-trained women were assigned in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design to consume PL (0.10 mmol nitrate) and BR (6 mmol of nitrate) 2.5 h prior to performing barbell back squats and bench press at 55% one-repetition max (1RM), 60%1RM, and 65%1RM. Power and velocity were measured via a linear transducer during exercise. All visits were performed during the early follicular phase. RESULTS: A subset of data has been obtained and it presented (n=13) for peak power and mean power of back squat and bench press, with our results remaining blinded. CONCLUSION: These data provide insight for dietary nitrate as an ergogenic aid to enhance resistance exercise performance in resistance-trained women.