Chronic Beetroot Juice Supplementation Attenuates Neuromuscular Fatigue Etiology During Simulated Soccer Match Play

In the last decade, several nutritional strategies have been proposed to protect against muscle damage, enhance performance, and attenuate neuromuscular fatigue. Among these strategies, dietary nitrate supplementation via beetroot juice (BEET) has become progressively popular, and a commonly used strategy by athletes. It is well established that dietary nitrate supplementation, such as BEET, could enhance performance. In fact, BEET supplementation increases nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, which may induce vasodilatation, improve mitochondrial efficiency and increase muscle blood flow. Previous studies investigating the effect of BEET in team sport players’ performance indicated that BEET supplementation improves performance in trained soccer players and recreational adults. Bear in mind though that performance was assessed during the Yo-Yo test in the aforementioned studies, an activity that does not simulate the soccer match nature and duration. Likewise, the effect of BEET on neuromuscular performance is equivocal and presents controversial results