Beetroot Juice Added Nothing to 12 Weeks of Strength Training in Older Adults
Graded Preliminary — small randomized placebo-controlled trial of 27 adults over 12 weeks, with limited power to detect modest effects.
- Design
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- Participants
- 27
- Duration
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- Funding
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This study suggests beetroot juice may not add benefits on top of regular strength training.
Daily nitrate-rich beetroot juice, a popular workout booster, did not add anything to the gains people got from strength training. In 27 middle-aged and older adults lifting twice weekly for 12 weeks, half drank real beet juice and half a nitrate-free version. Training alone raised muscle mitochondria (the cell's power plants) and leg strength, so the lifting did the heavy work. The group was small, so modest effects of the juice could have been missed.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.