Can Beetroot Extract Influence Cardiovascular And Autonomic Recovery From The Effort In Healthy Males? A Randomized Trial

Introduction: There is no evidence that beetroot ( Beta vulgaris L .) extract is advantageous for the recovery of cardiovascular parameters and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) after submaximal aerobic exercise. Objective: To evaluate the effect of beetroot extract supplementation on the recovery of cardiorespiratory and autonomic parameters after a submaximal aerobic exercise session. Methods: Sixteen healthy male adults performed a cross-over, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial. Beetroot extract (600mg) or placebo (600mg) were ingested 90 minutes before evaluation in randomized days. We evaluated systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and HR variability (HRV) indexes at Rest and during 60 minutes of recovery from submaximal aerobic exercise. Results: Beetroot extract ingestion accelerated HR, SBP, and MAP reduction after exercise and anticipated the return of vagal modulation of the heart following exercise via the HF (ms 2 ) index. Conclusions: Beetroot extract was revealed to be effective for recovery of the cardiovascular and autonomic systems following submaximal aerobic exercise in healthy males.