The Effect of Beetroot Supplementation on Oxidative Stress and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness after an Exhaustive Eccentric Exercise in Competitive Soccer Players

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of beetroot supplementation on oxidative stress and delayed onset muscle soreness after an exhaustive eccentric exercise in competitive soccer players.

20 male competitive football players of Mashhad, aged between 17 and 19 years, were randomly assigned to placebo and beetroot groups. On the pre-test day, both groups participated in an exhaustive eccentric exercise. Then, for 2 weeks, the supplement group received beetroot extract and the placebo group received flour powder (200 mg daily dose with identical capsules). After two weeks, both groups again participated in the same physical activity as the pre-test (post-test). Before and 24 hours after both activities, blood samples were taken and muscle pain was measured. CK, LDH, GPX, SOD and MDA levels were measured for each blood sample.

The results showed that muscle pain and levels of CK, LDH, GPX and MDA increased significantly after eccentric exercise, but their increase in the beetroot group was significantly lower than the placebo group (P<0.05).

Probably, the short-term supplementation of beet reduces the rate of delayed onset muscle soreness following a bout of eccentric resistance activity due to its antioxidant substances.