Beetroot juice and muscle strength, power and endurance in active men
What it found
Drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice for six days did not improve jump height, leg strength or muscle endurance in active men.
It did increase one measure of knee bending power at a slow speed.
What they found
Studies in people
Nitrate levels in blood
Blood nitrate and nitrite levels were much higher after drinking the nitrate-rich beetroot juice compared with the depleted version.
Jumping performance
Jump height was about the same whether the men drank nitrate-rich or nitrate-depleted beetroot juice.
Muscle endurance
Total work done during repeated leg contractions did not differ between the two drinks.
Leg strength and power
Static leg strength and knee straightening power at several speeds were similar for both juices. Knee bending power was higher after the nitrate-rich juice at one slow speed only.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that nitrate supplementation does not improve maximal strength, jump performance or muscular endurance in healthy, active males.
How it was done
Dietary nitrate has been linked to better muscle power and sprint performance. Scientists wanted to find out if it also helps with maximum strength and muscle endurance.
Fifteen recreationally active men took part in a randomised trial. Each man drank 140 mL of either nitrate-rich beetroot juice (985 mg nitrate per day) or nitrate-depleted beetroot juice for six days. Three hours after the last drink, researchers tested their jumping, leg strength and muscle endurance.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial only included recreationally active men, so the results may not apply to women or less active people. The tests measured short bursts of effort, not long-term training outcomes.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- HAN University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands; Ghent University, Belgium; Maastricht University Medical Centre, Netherlands
The paper
- Title
- The impact of beetroot juice supplementation on muscular endurance, maximal strength and countermovement jump performance
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Jonvik KL, Hoogervorst D, Peelen HB, et al (2021). The impact of beetroot juice supplementation on muscular endurance, maximal strength and countermovement jump performance. European journal of sport science. doi:10.1080/17461391.2020.1788649PubMed 32594854DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error