SynthesisFrontiers in nutrition2026
Effects of beetroot juice supplementation on maximal oxygen uptake during aerobic exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Abstract
Background: Beetroot juice (BRJ) is a dietary source of inorganic nitrate that may increase nitric oxide bioavailability and influence aerobic exercise capacity. Previous reviews have included scattered evidence on maximal or peak oxygen uptake in the context of overall exercise performance. This review assessed the effect of BRJ supplementation on VO₂max/VO₂peak in healthy adults. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and crossover placebo-controlled trials was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020. A total of six databases were searched from inception to 31 January 2026. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to involve terms such as healthy adults, BRJ or beetroot-derived nitrate supplementation, an incremental or graded aerobic exercise test, a placebo comparator, and reporting of VO₂max or VO₂peak. Pooled effects were calculated as Hedges' g under a random-effects model. Results: Thirty-eight studies involving 703 participants were included in the quantitative synthesis. BRJ produced a small statistically significant improvement in VO₂max/VO₂peak compared with placebo (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI [0.11, 0.37], Conclusion: BRJ supplementation is associated with a small improvement in VO₂max/VO₂peak, particularly in recreationally active adults. The effect may be smaller after adjusting for publication bias, and evidence in highly trained athletes remains limited and uncertain. The overall certainty of evidence was rated as moderate. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/. PROSPERO registration: CRD420261414721.
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