The effect of short-term caffeine-beet juice supplementation on catecholamine changes, lactate and Rating of Perceived Exertion before intense anaerobic activity in runners: A double-blind randomized clinical trial study

Background and Purpose: Intense anaerobic activity is used to improve anaerobic power and lactate threshold .The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in catecholamines, rating of perceived exertion and lactate supplementation with short-term caffeine and beet juice before intense anaerobic activity in runners. Methodology: In this study, 30 high performance runners (age: 27.5±3.8 y, height: 176.7±7 cm, body fat: 9.9±1.7 %) were divided into three experimental trials as high, low dosage and placebo. Epinephrine and norepinephrine, lactate, heart rate, and subjects perceptual stress levels were measured. Results: The results showed that supplementation no significant changes in epinephrine levels (p = 0.93), norepinephrine (p = 0.89) and lactate (p = 0.37), but has had a significant effect on the perception of runner pressure (p<0.001). Exercise also caused significant changes in catecholamine levels (p<0.001). As the time elapsed after running, lactate levels decreased more than at baseline (p<0.001). Also, with increasing running distance, the rate of pressure perception increased (p<0.001). Conclusion: Combination supplement did not have a significant effect on the levels of catecholamines and lactate but could have a significant effect on blood pressure perception.