More athletes could soon be spotted with beetroot-stained lips after Australian researchers found the nitrate-rich juice might help enhance performances.
Researchers examined the influence beetroot supplements had on six national-level male and five international-level female kayakers at the West Australian Institute of Sport and the National Regatta Centre in NSW.
Peter Peeling, from the University of WA, said the team looked at the difference a 70ml beetroot shot made to the time-trial performance and paddling economy of the athletes.
"In laboratory-based four minute ergometer tests, the beetroot supplement had a small effect on the distance covered but was effective in improving the task economy of the male kayakers," he said.
"When we used a greater volume of beetroot juice (140ml) among our female participants during a field-based 500m kayaking time-trial, we found there was a meaningful performance improvement of 1.7 per cent."
Dr Peeling said given the margin between gold and silver medals in the men's K1-1000m and the women's K1-500m races at the 2012 London Olympic Games was 0.3 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively, the changes were relevant.
He said the nitrate in beetroot juice improved the efficiency of processes in the mitochondria, which were the cell's "energy factory".
"This means ATP, the molecule known as a cell's energy currency, can be spared during muscular activity, resulting in a decreased oxygen cost for a given task," Dr Peeling said.
"If you can find a way of reducing the oxygen cost of a given activity, you might improve the ability to withstand the exercise intensity for a greater period of time, or you find a greater level of output for the original oxygen cost."
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