Negligible Effects of Nutraceuticals from Beetroot Extract on Cardiovascular and Autonomic Recovery Response following Submaximal Aerobic Exercise in Physically Active Healthy Males: A Randomized Trial.
Cicero Jonas R Benjamim, Francisco Welington de Sousa Júnior, Andrey Alves Porto, Camila Venancia Guerra Andrade, Maria Íris L Saraiva de Figueiredo, Cicera Josilânia R Benjamim, Guilherme da Silva Rodrigues, Elida M Braga Rocha, Taisy Ferro Cavalcante, David M Garner, Vitor Engracia Valenti, Carlos R Bueno Júnior
Author Information
Cicero Jonas R Benjamim: Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil. ORCID
Francisco Welington de Sousa Júnior: University Center of the Juazeiro do Norte, Juazeiro do Norte 63010-475, CE, Brazil. ORCID
Andrey Alves Porto: São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente, São Paulo Brazil; Autonomic Nervous System Center, UNESP, Marília 17525-900, São Paulo. ORCID
Camila Venancia Guerra Andrade: Development Nutrition, Phytotherapy and Hygiene Research Group, University of Pernambuco, Petrolina 56328-900, PE, Brazil.
Maria Íris L Saraiva de Figueiredo: University Center of the Juazeiro do Norte, Juazeiro do Norte 63010-475, CE, Brazil.
Cicera Josilânia R Benjamim: University Center of the Juazeiro do Norte, Juazeiro do Norte 63010-475, CE, Brazil.
Guilherme da Silva Rodrigues: Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil. ORCID
Elida M Braga Rocha: University Center of the Juazeiro do Norte, Juazeiro do Norte 63010-475, CE, Brazil.
Taisy Ferro Cavalcante: Development Nutrition, Phytotherapy and Hygiene Research Group, University of Pernambuco, Petrolina 56328-900, PE, Brazil.
David M Garner: São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente, São Paulo Brazil; Autonomic Nervous System Center, UNESP, Marília 17525-900, São Paulo. ORCID
Vitor Engracia Valenti: São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente, São Paulo Brazil; Autonomic Nervous System Center, UNESP, Marília 17525-900, São Paulo. ORCID
Carlos R Bueno Júnior: Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil. ORCID
BACKGROUND: There is little evidence that nutraceuticals from beetroot extract are beneficial with regards to recovery of the cardiovascular parameters and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) after submaximal aerobic exercise, though this formulation is employed widely for this purpose. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of beetroot extract supplementation on the recovery of cardiorespiratory and autonomic parameters after a session of submaximal aerobic exercise. METHODS: Sixteen healthy male adults commenced a cross-over, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial. Beetroot extract (600 mg) or placebo (600 mg) were ingested 120 min prior to evaluation on randomized days. We assessed systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) indexes at Rest and during 60 min of recovery from submaximal aerobic exercise. RESULTS: Beetroot extract ingestion slightly accelerated HR, SBP, DBP and MAP reduction following exercise associated to the placebo protocol (vs. rest). Yet no group effect ( = 0.99) was identified between the beetroot and placebo protocols on HR mean, in addition to interaction (group vs. time) ( = 0.60). No group effect was attained between the SBP ( = 0.90), DBP ( = 0.88), MAP ( = 0.73) and PP ( = 0.99) protocols and no significant differences (group vs. time) were observed between the values of SBP ( = 0.75), DBP ( = 0.79), MAP ( = 0.93) and PP ( = 0.63) between placebo and beetroot protocols. Similarly, the reoccurrence of cardiac vagal modulation after exercise via the HF (ms) was enhanced, but not with regards to the RMSSD index. No group effect ( = 0.99) was identified for the HF ( = 0.90) and RMSSD ( = 0.67) indices. Likewise, we observed no significant differences (group vs. time) amongst the values of HF ( = 0.69) and RMSSD ( = 0.95) between the placebo and beetroot protocols. CONCLUSION: Whilst beetroot extract might assist the recovery of the cardiovascular and autonomic systems following submaximal aerobic exercise in healthy males, these results seem insignificant owing to minor differences between interventions and are weak clinically.
