NitrateBASKET_BEETNCT07833579

Beetroot Juice and Neuromuscular Performance in Female Basketball Players

A study testing Beetroot juice supplementation in people with Nitrate and Placebo - Control, run by Universidad Pontificia Comillas at 1 site in Spain.

Enrolling by invitation

Enrolling by invitation. The study team selects and invites participants, usually from an existing group of patients.

Sites and contacts

Official record

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Trial summary

Who is it for?: Ages 18 to 35 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for: Nitrate, Placebo - Control
What is being tested?: Beetroot juice supplementation
Could I receive a placebo?: Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people: 16 participants
Where: 1 siteSpain
Study dates: 22 Sep 2026to 10 Nov 2026
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 18 to 35 years
Women only
Healthy volunteers accepted
Adult

Who may be able to join

Female basketball players aged 18-35 years.
Currently participating in natitional competitive basketball.
Able to complete all supplementation and testing procedures.

Who cannot join

Presence of any chronic disease or medical condition that could affect physical performance or interfere with the study procedures.
Presence of any injury during the month prior to the study that could limit participation in the physical performance tests.
Known intolerance or allergy to beetroot or other nitrate-rich vegetables (e.g., beetroot, lettuce).
Use of medications or dietary supplements that could potentially influence nitrate metabolism or physical performance during the study period.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Spain1 site

Universidad Pontificia Comillas
Madrid, Madrid, 20815

Other trials in Spain

About this study

Official title: Physical Performance Following Multiday Beetroot Juice Supplementation in Female Basketball Players: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigates the effects of 5 days of nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation (70 mL·day-¹; 6.4 mmol NO₃-·day-¹) on physical performance in female basketball players. Performance will be evaluated using jump, 30-m sprint, agility, and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) tests, while RPE and potential side effects will be assessed through questionnaires. The study aims to address the limited evidence regarding the ergogenic effects of beetroot juice supplementation in female team-sport athletes.

Read the detailed description

Although beetroot juice supplementation, primarily due to its high inorganic nitrate (NO₃-) content, has been associated with improvements in endurance and high-intensity intermittent exercise performance, its potential ergogenic effects in team sports remain unclear, particularly in female athletes. This knowledge gap is especially relevant in basketball, a sport characterized by repeated bouts of sprinting, jumping, accelerating, decelerating, and changing direction. Therefore, this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed to investigate the effects of 5 consecutive days of nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation (70 mL·day-¹, providing 6.4 mmol NO₃-·day-¹) on physical performance in female basketball players. Following the supplementation period, performance was assessed through jumping performance, 30-m sprint, agility, and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) tests. Additionally, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and potential side effects associated with beetroot juice supplementation were assessed using questionnaires.

Conditions: Nitrate, Placebo - Control
Being tested: Placebo, Beetroot juice supplementation
Keywords: nitrate, beetroot, team sports, female athletes

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

PlaceboOther
Participants consumed one 70-mL serving of nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo (0.04 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) daily for 5 consecutive days.
Beetroot juice supplementationDietary supplement
Participants consumed one 70-mL serving of nitrate-rich BJ (6.4 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) daily for 5 consecutive days. On the final supplementation day, BJ was consumed 3 h before the testing session.

Study groups in NCT07833579
Study group	Role	What they receive
Experimental: Beetroot juice supplementation	Experimental	Participants consumed one serving of 70 mL of nitrate-rich BJ (6.4 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) was administered daily for 5 consecutive days. On the final supplementation day, the placebo was consumed 3 h before the testing session Receives: Dietary Supplement: Beetroot juice supplementation
Placebo supplementation	Placebo comparator	Participants consumed one 70-mL serving of nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo (0.04 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) daily for 5 consecutive days. On the final supplementation day, the placebo was consumed 3 h before the testing session. Receives: Other: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Changes in maximal isometric handgrip strength (N)
Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (IMTP): Lower-body maximal isometric strength will be assessed using the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) performed on VALD ForceDecks force platforms (VALD Performance, Brisbane, Australia). Participants will adopt a standardized mid-thigh pull position with the knees and hips slightly flexed and will be instructed to pull against an immovable bar as hard and as fast as possible. Ground reaction force will be recorded by the force platforms throughout each maximal effort. Peak force will be expressed both as absolute force (N) and relative to body mass (N·kg-¹). Participants will perform maximal trials separated by an appropriate recovery period, and the best trial will be retained for analysis.
Measured: 1-week
Changes in maximal jump height (cm)
Maximal Jump Height: Lower-body explosive performance will be assessed using the squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJ-AS). Jump performance will be measured using an OptoJump Next system (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Participants will perform maximal-effort trials for each jump condition following standardized instructions. Maximal jump height (cm) will be recorded for each jump type, and the best performance will be retained for analysis. Changes in maximal jump height following 5 days of supplementation will be compared between the nitrate-rich beetroot juice and placebo conditions.
Measured: 1-week
Changes in sprint time (s)
Sprint performance will be assessed by measuring the time required to complete 10-m, 20-m, and 30-m sprints using Microgate photocell timing gates (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Participants will be instructed to sprint as fast as possible over the 30-m distance, with split times recorded at 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m. Sprint time will be recorded in seconds (s). Participants will perform maximal trials separated by an appropriate recovery period, and the best performance will be retained for analysis.
Measured: 1-week
Changes in agility test (s)
Modified T-Test Performance: Change-of-direction performance will be assessed using the modified T-test, with completion time measured using Microgate photocell timing gates (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Participants will be instructed to complete the standardized course as quickly as possible, incorporating forward sprinting, lateral shuffling, and backward running. Completion time will be recorded in seconds (s). Participants will perform maximal trials separated by an appropriate recovery period, and the best performance will be retained for analysis.
Measured: 1-week

Secondary outcomes (3)

Saliva NO3- and NO2- Measurements
Saliva samples were collected 150 min after BJ or the placebo ingestion and were stored at -20°C for four months until subsequent analysis. To confirm the effectiveness of BJ supplementation on nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) levels, saliva concentrations were measured using a nitric oxide assay kit (EMSNO K195325, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Roskilde, Denmark) according to the manufacturer's instructions and as reported in previous literature (Richard et al., 2018). All samples and standards were measured in duplicate and averaged.
Measured: 1-week
Rating of percevied exertion (RPE) (measured using scale 6-20 points)
Immediately after each physical performance battery, participants were asked for providing her RPE using a Borg scale from 6 to 20 points
Measured: 1-week
Side Effects Associated With Beetroot Juice Supplementation
The morning after the supplementation and testing session, participants will complete a questionnaire assessing potential side effects associated with beetroot juice or placebo ingestion. The questionnaire includes gastrointestinal upset, red urine, gastric reflux, mild nausea, muscle pain, headache, increased urine excretion, increased fatigue, and nervousness. Each side effect will be assessed using a dichotomous Yes/No response scale (No = 0; Yes = 1). The incidence of each side effect will be reported as the number and percentage of participants reporting the symptom.
Measured: 1-week

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

22 Sep 202610 Nov 2026

First posted22 Sep 2026
Study start22 Sep 2026
Primary completion28 Oct 2026
Study completion10 Nov 2026 (estimated)

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
Other trials for NitrateStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase N/A
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Crossover
Model description: This study will use a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group design. Female basketball players will be randomly allocated to either a nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation group (70 mL·day-¹, providing 6.4 mmol NO₃-·day-¹) or a placebo group for 5 consecutive days. Following the supplementation period, physical performance will be assessed using jump, 30-m sprint, agility, and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) tests. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and potential supplementation-related side effects will also be assessed.
Masking: Quadruple blind
Who is masked: Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment: 16 participants (estimated)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07833579
Sponsor's protocol ID: UFV_46/2018
Other IDs: Nitra_Women Redes-CHS 2026
Acronym: BASKET_BEET
Status last verified: Sep 2026
First submitted: 16 Sep 2026
Last updated: 3 Nov 2026
Results posted: No
Data monitoring committee: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No
Individual data sharing: No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared to protect participant confidentiality and privacy. The study involves a relatively small and specific sample of competitive female basketball players, which could increase the potential risk of participant identification. Aggregated and anonymized study results will be reported in scientific publications and presentations.

Publications

Lopez-Samanes A, Perez-Lopez A, Morencos E, Munoz A, Kuhn A, Sanchez-Migallon V, Moreno-Perez V, Gonzalez-Frutos P, Bach-Faig A, Roberts J, Dominguez R. Beetroot juice ingestion does not improve neuromuscular performance and match-play demands in elite female hockey players: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Nutr. 2023 Apr;62(3):1123-1130. doi: 10.1007/s00394-022-03052-1. Epub 2022 Nov 19.
PubMed 36401662

Interested in taking part?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

See sites and contacts

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All Nitrate trials

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Physical Performance Following Multiday Beetroot Juice Supplementation in Female Basketball Players: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07833579
Acronym / sponsor ID: BASKET_BEET / UFV_46/2018
Conditions: Nitrate, Placebo - Control
Keywords: nitrate, beetroot, team sports, female athletes
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Enrolling by invitation
Enrolment: 16 participants (estimated)
Lead sponsor: Universidad Pontificia ComillasUniversity, hospital or other
Collaborators: Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Central Queensland University, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, University of Tehran, University of Cadiz
Study start: 22 Sep 2026 (actual)
Primary completion: 28 Oct 2026 (actual)
Study completion: 10 Nov 2026 (estimated)
First posted: 22 Sep 2026 (actual)
Results: Not posted in the source record

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Detailed description

Study design

Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Crossover
Masking: Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
Number of arms: 2
Model description: This study will use a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group design. Female basketball players will be randomly allocated to either a nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation group (70 mL·day-¹, providing 6.4 mmol NO₃-·day-¹) or a placebo group for 5 consecutive days. Following the supplementation period, physical performance will be assessed using jump, 30-m sprint, agility, and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) tests. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and potential supplementation-related side effects will also be assessed.

Arm	Type	Receives
Experimental: Beetroot juice supplementation	Experimental	Dietary Supplement: Beetroot juice supplementationParticipants consumed one serving of 70 mL of nitrate-rich BJ (6.4 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) was administered daily for 5 consecutive days. On the final supplementation day, the placebo was consumed 3 h before the testing session
Placebo supplementation	Placebo comparator	Other: PlaceboParticipants consumed one 70-mL serving of nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo (0.04 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) daily for 5 consecutive days. On the final supplementation day, the placebo was consumed 3 h before the testing session.

Who may qualify

Ages: 18 to 35 years
Sex: Female only
Healthy volunteers: Accepted
Age groups: Adult

Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)

Female basketball players aged 18-35 years.
Currently participating in natitional competitive basketball.
Able to complete all supplementation and testing procedures.

Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)

Presence of any chronic disease or medical condition that could affect physical performance or interfere with the study procedures.
Presence of any injury during the month prior to the study that could limit participation in the physical performance tests.
Known intolerance or allergy to beetroot or other nitrate-rich vegetables (e.g., beetroot, lettuce).
Use of medications or dietary supplements that could potentially influence nitrate metabolism or physical performance during the study period.

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
PlaceboParticipants consumed one 70-mL serving of nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo (0.04 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) daily for 5 consecutive days.	Other	Placebo supplementation
Beetroot juice supplementationParticipants consumed one 70-mL serving of nitrate-rich BJ (6.4 mmol of NO₃-; Beet-It-Pro Elite Shot, James White Drinks Ltd., Ipswich, UK) daily for 5 consecutive days. On the final supplementation day, BJ was consumed 3 h before the testing session.	Dietary supplement	Experimental: Beetroot juice supplementation

Primary outcome

Changes in maximal isometric handgrip strength (N)
Time frame: 1-week
Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull (IMTP): Lower-body maximal isometric strength will be assessed using the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) performed on VALD ForceDecks force platforms (VALD Performance, Brisbane, Australia). Participants will adopt a standardized mid-thigh pull position with the knees and hips slightly flexed and will be instructed to pull against an immovable bar as hard and as fast as possible. Ground reaction force will be recorded by the force platforms throughout each maximal effort. Peak force will be expressed both as absolute force (N) and relative to body mass (N·kg-¹). Participants will perform maximal trials separated by an appropriate recovery period, and the best trial will be retained for analysis.
Changes in maximal jump height (cm)
Time frame: 1-week
Maximal Jump Height: Lower-body explosive performance will be assessed using the squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), and countermovement jump with arm swing (CMJ-AS). Jump performance will be measured using an OptoJump Next system (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Participants will perform maximal-effort trials for each jump condition following standardized instructions. Maximal jump height (cm) will be recorded for each jump type, and the best performance will be retained for analysis. Changes in maximal jump height following 5 days of supplementation will be compared between the nitrate-rich beetroot juice and placebo conditions.
Changes in sprint time (s)
Time frame: 1-week
Sprint performance will be assessed by measuring the time required to complete 10-m, 20-m, and 30-m sprints using Microgate photocell timing gates (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Participants will be instructed to sprint as fast as possible over the 30-m distance, with split times recorded at 10 m, 20 m, and 30 m. Sprint time will be recorded in seconds (s). Participants will perform maximal trials separated by an appropriate recovery period, and the best performance will be retained for analysis.
Changes in agility test (s)
Time frame: 1-week
Modified T-Test Performance: Change-of-direction performance will be assessed using the modified T-test, with completion time measured using Microgate photocell timing gates (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy). Participants will be instructed to complete the standardized course as quickly as possible, incorporating forward sprinting, lateral shuffling, and backward running. Completion time will be recorded in seconds (s). Participants will perform maximal trials separated by an appropriate recovery period, and the best performance will be retained for analysis.

3 secondary outcomes

Saliva NO3- and NO2- Measurements
Time frame: 1-week
Rating of percevied exertion (RPE) (measured using scale 6-20 points)
Time frame: 1-week
Side Effects Associated With Beetroot Juice Supplementation
Time frame: 1-week

Results and safety

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Nov 2026.
Background: PubMed 36401662Lopez-Samanes A, Perez-Lopez A, Morencos E, Munoz A, Kuhn A, Sanchez-Migallon V, Moreno-Perez V, Gonzalez-Frutos P, Bach-Faig A, Roberts J, Dominguez R. Beetroot juice ingestion does not improve neuromuscular performance and match-play demands in elite female hockey players: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Nutr. 2023 Apr;62(3):1123-1130. doi: 10.1007/s00394-022-03052-1. Epub 2022 Nov 19.
Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be publicly shared to protect participant confidentiality and privacy. The study involves a relatively small and specific sample of competitive female basketball players, which could increase the potential risk of participant identification. Aggregated and anonymized study results will be reported in scientific publications and presentations.

Related trials for Nitrate

RecruitingPhase 2
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Dose-Response Effects of Beetroot Juice on Neuromuscular Performance in the Bench Press
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Not yet recruiting
Exercise Training Intensity and Nitrate Supplementation in Post-Menopausal Females on Hormone Therapy
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Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.

Alvaro Lopez Samanes, PhD study chair

Universidad Pontificia Comillas

1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Beetroot juice supplementation in people with Nitrate and Placebo - Control, run by Universidad Pontificia Comillas at 1 site in Spain.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Changes in maximal isometric handgrip strength (N) (time frame: 1-week). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07833579, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Nov 2026.