Effect of beetroot supplementation on 10 km time trial performance of distance runners

Objective: To find out the effect of 15 days of beetroot juice (BRJ) supplementation on 10 km time trial performance in trained distance runners of University level.Methods: Thirty trained athletes, 15 males age = 26.3 y ± 1.52, height 170.5 ± 0.2 cm, and 15 females, age = 25.2 y ± 1.30, height 157.8 ± 0.3 cm were selected for the present study. Two experimental and two control groups were made consisting of males and females separately. The first group of male and female (Experimental Group) consumed the BRJdaily 250 ml/dayand the second group (Control Group) did not consume beetroot juice. Both groups underwent a regular athletics training programme. All the subjects were tested on Ten Km Time Trial (TT)performance before supplementation of BRJ and after 15 days of supplementation of BRJ. Results: The significant effect of BRJ supplementationwas observed (p < 0.05) between pre and post measures of 10 km TT in experimental group. BRJ supplementation significantly improved performance in 10 km TT in both groups (respectively male; P< 0.006; F=11.09, ES =.480, female; P < 0.000, F=40.45, ES =.771.Conclusion: Consumption of BRJ250 ml/day in improved 10 km time trial performance in traineddistance runners.