Effects of Beetroot Supplementation on Recovery After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT

Beetroots have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help attenuate inflammation and oxidative stress, enhancing recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of beetroot supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammation, and recovery after EIMD.

DATA SOURCES

SPORTDiscus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched, and hand-searching was performed by looking to relevant studies that were cited in other studies.

STUDY SELECTION

For a study to be included in this review, the following inclusion criteria had to be met: (1) research conducted with human participants, (2) original articles in peer-reviewed publications, (3) original studies that had investigated beetroot supplementation intervention on muscle damage and recovery, (4) research conducted with 1 control/placebo group, and (5) articles published from inception to October 2020.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 3.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two of the 4 authors independently extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of the articles with the PEDro scale. All discrepancies were resolved through a consensus meeting.

RESULTS

A total of 9 studies were included in this review. The methodological quality of the included studies ranged from moderate to high. Most of the studies found a better recovery of functional variables and muscle soreness, but improvements in markers of muscle damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress were not reported.

CONCLUSION

The existing evidence suggests that a short-term beetroot supplementation has the potential to accelerate recovery of functional measures and muscle soreness, but further research is needed to clarify if a longer supplementation period (with some days before exercise and some days after) could also promote recovery of markers of muscle damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress.