Can beetroot juice and caffeine unlock better athletic performance?
NCT ID NCT07748416
First seen Aug 05, 2026 · Last updated Aug 07, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This trial investigates whether beetroot juice (rich in dietary nitrate) and caffeine, taken alone or together, can improve exercise performance in two groups of athletes: adult functional fitness competitors and elite junior swimmers. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design, participants will perform discipline-specific tests—a Hyrox fitness test for the adults and an 8x100m swim test for the juniors—while researchers measure performance times, blood lactate, perceived exertion, and other physiological responses. The goal is to see if these common supplements offer a legal, natural edge in athletic performance.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Beetroot juice (dietary nitrate) and caffeine, tested separately and together
- What this could lead to
- If effective, this could point to a simple, legal dietary strategy for athletes to improve performance and recovery.
- What could go wrong
- Effects may be small or vary between individuals, and the trial is acute (single-dose) rather than long-term, so benefits may not translate to real-world competition.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
About 112 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
-
Oct 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
-
Jun 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
16 to 45 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: A) Cohort A (HIFT / CrossFit / Hyrox): * Aged 18-45 years. * Minimum of 2 years of systematic HIFT/CrossFit/Hyrox training experience. * Performing \>4 training sessions per week. * Ability to perform the HYROX Physical Fitness Test (P'F'T) and has participated in at least one official HYROX event. * Possession of a valid medical certificate proving eligibility for competitive sports. B) Cohort B (Competitive Junior Swimmers): * Aged 16-19 years. * Active member of the Polish Junior National Swimming Team. * Minimum of 5 years of competitive swimming experience. * Current training volume of at least 8-10 pool training sessions per week. * Written informed consent obtained from both the participant and their legal guardian (for minors under 18). C)Common Criteria for Both Cohorts: * No history of cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, or musculoskeletal disease contradicting high-intensity exercise or stimulant intake. * No known food allergies or adverse reactions to beetroot products or caffeine. * No current use of medications that alter nitrate/caffeine metabolism (e.g., proton pump inhibitors, antibiotics, phosphodiesterase inhibitors). * History of uneventful habituation to caffeine use during training/competition. * Willingness to abstain from dietary supplements, antibacterial mouthwashes, alcohol, and high-nitrate foods for 48 hours prior to each testing session. * Good general health and physical well-being. Exclusion Criteria (Applicable to both cohorts): * Occurrence of acute musculoskeletal injury or trauma during the study period. * Any medical or health contraindications (including severe menstrual disorders, planned pregnancy, or breastfeeding). * Failure or refusal to strictly adhere to the dietary, supplementation, and exercise testing protocols.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Athletic performance are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Poznan University of Physical Education
Poznan, Wielkopolska, 61-871, Poland
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can caffeine boost strength? trial tests two doses in women
- Can a Post-Training drink help young footballers recover and sleep better?
- Can shorter, more frequent jump workouts build explosive teen athletes?
- Can a few heavy squats keep fasting fighters explosive?
- Fish oil meets TB drugs: can Omega-3 help clear infection faster?
- Which soccer drill builds more power: small games or sprints?