The effects of acute beetroot juice supplementation on lower and upper body isokinetic strength of the wrestlers

Background and objective: Peak torque, as measured by the gold standard method of isokinetic dynamometry, is affected by consumed of dietary nitrate (NO3−) in the form of beetroot juice (BRJ). The increasing strength performance effect of BRJ has also started to arouse interest in combat sports. This study aims to investigate the effects of acute dietary nitrate supplementation on lower and upper body isokinetic strength of trained Greco-Roman wrestlers. Materials and methods: The study is a double-blind, randomized, crossover design in which eight trained male Greco-Roman wrestlers (21.87 ± 2.3 years; height 176.87 cm ± 4.1 cm; body weight 76.75 kg ± 5.4 kg) consumed beetroot juice (140 mL) or placebo (140 mL, cherry juice with lemon juice) 150 min before performing isokinetic strength. Participants performed knee extensors and flexors and shoulder internal and external rotator isokinetic strength test (in the dominant limbs) concentrically at 60◦ with by Cybex device (Cybex NORM®, Humac, CA, USA). The same trial procedure was repeated with the other supplement (BRJ or Placebo) in a second testing session five days later. BRJ and Placebo trials’ isokinetic strength values were compared with parametric testing (paired sample T-test). Results: Although there was a significant difference in peak torque of shoulder internal and external rotator values in favor of BRJ (P < 0.05), there was no significant difference in the knee strength test. Additionally, all average isokinetic strength values were significantly increased in the BRJ trial (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that BRJ can be used as an ergogenic effect for improving strength values in Greco-Roman wrestling.