The Study
Acute inorganic nitrate ingestion does not impact oral microbial composition, cognitive function, or high-intensity exercise performance in female team-sport athletes
This study is like a fair test where two teams got different drinks, but nobody knew which was which. After the test, both teams did the same sports and brain games, and the results were almost exactly the same. So we can say this drink didn’t help or hurt in this case—but only for these specific players.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists gave female athletes beetroot juice with lots of nitrate to see if it helped them run faster, jump higher, or think better — but it didn't.
Where does this study sit?
Systematic Reviews & Meta-analyses
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Cohort Studies
Max 72Case-Control
Max 58Cross-Sectional
Max 44Case Reports & Series
Max 30Expert Opinion
Max 582 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. Considered the gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Even though the body absorbed the nitrate, it didn't translate into better athletic performance or sharper thinking during sports-like tasks.
- 2After drinking beetroot juice with 12 mmol nitrate, plasma nitrate and nitrite levels went up by 50–470%, but sprint times, jump height, grip strength, and cognitive test scores didn't change at all.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
European Journal of Applied Physiology
Year
2024
Authors
Rachel Tan, Courtney Merrill, Chandler F. Riley, Maya A. Hammer, Ryan Kenney, Alyssa Riley, Jeffrey Li, Alexandra C. Zink, Sean T Karl, Katherine M Price, Luka K Sharabidze, Samantha N. Rowland, Stephen J. Bailey, Leah T. Stiemsma, Adam Pennell
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.