Influence of equimolar doses of beetroot juice and sodium nitrate on time trial performance in handcycling

This study aimed to investigate the influence of a single dose of either beetroot juice (BR) or sodium nitrate (NIT) on performance in a 10 km handcycling time trial (TT) in able-bodied individuals and paracyclists. In total, 14 able-bodied individuals [mean ± SD; age: 28 ± 7 years, height: 183 ± 5 cm, body mass (BM): 82 ± 9 kg, peak oxygen consumption (VO): 33.9 ± 4.2 mL/min/kg] and eight paracyclists (age: 40 ± 11 years, height: 176 ± 9cm, BM: 65 ± 9 kg, VO: 38.6 ± 10.5 mL/min/kg) participated in the study. All participants had to perform three TT on different days, receiving either 6 mmol nitrate as BR or NIT or water as a placebo. Time-to-complete the TT, power output (PO), as well as oxygen uptake (VO) were measured. No significant differences in time-to-complete the TT were found between the three interventions in able-bodied individuals ( = 0.80) or in paracyclists ( = 0.61). Furthermore, VO was not significantly changed after the ingestion of BR or NIT in either group ( < 0.05). The PO to VO ratio was significantly higher in some kilometers of the TT in able-bodied individuals ( < 0.05). The ingestion of BR or NIT did not increase handcycling performance in able-bodied individuals or in paracyclists