(P29-006-25) Effect of Beetroot Juice and the Beetroot-Orange Juice Blend on Endurance, Aerobic ‎Power, and Recovery in Moroccan Professional Footballers Players

Objectives: Football is a demanding sport, requiring both endurance and rapid recovery. While nitrate intake through beetroot juice has shown beneficial effects on athletic performance, studies on its impact in professional football players are limited. This study aims to compare the effects of beetroot juice alone and a beetroot-orange juice blend on endurance, aerobic power, and recovery in Moroccan professional footballers.

Methods: A total of 31 professional footballers, with an average age of 25.1 ± 2.8 years, were divided into two groups: a control group consuming 500 ml of beetroot juice daily and an experimental group consuming 250 ml of beetroot juice and 250 ml of orange juice daily, at least 60 minutes before each physical effort. The study took place over two weeks during a physical preparation period prior to the start of the season. Both groups followed a standardized diet, and their physical activity involved general physical preparation workshops and friendly matches. Physical tests, including the Yo-Yo endurance test, maximum aerobic power (30-meter sprint), and post-exercise recovery, were conducted before and after the intervention.

Results: The results showed that the experimental group consuming the beetroot-orange juice blend exhibited a significant improvement in endurance (p-value < 0.05), maximum aerobic power (p-value < 0.001), and recovery (p-value < 0.05) compared to the control group (ANOVA and paired tests). The synergistic effect of beetroot nitrates and orange antioxidants appears to have enhanced the footballers' physical performance by optimizing oxygen utilization and promoting better post-effort recovery.

Conclusions: This study suggests that consuming a beetroot-orange juice blend significantly improves endurance, aerobic power, and recovery in professional footballers. These findings provide promising insights into optimizing physical performance through a natural nutritional strategy that combines the benefits of nitrates and antioxidants.

Funding Sources: This research received no external funding.