Question

I am a veterinarian, and a client inquired recently about supplementing her performance horse with beetroot juice. Because I am unaware of any benefits, I asked her what she hoped to gain from feeding beetroot juice, and she mentioned a bump up in endurance ability and antioxidant protection. Why beetroot juice? Surely, there must be a better way to provide antioxidants to performance horses than beetroot juice. Advice?

Answer

Human athletes consume nitrate-rich beetroot juice in an attempt to improve performance. Nitrate does not facilitate any specific physiologic function itself. As nitrate is digested, however, it is broken down to nitrite and nitric oxide, a molecule with essential vascular and metabolic functions. Nitric oxide induces vasodilation, reduces blood pressure, and limits oxidative stress. In addition, nitric oxide mediates glucose intake and could potentially increase the energy supply required for high-speed exertion. These effects in human athletes are variable, though.

Researchers in the U.K. performed a study to determine the effects of beetroot juice on nitrite and nitrate levels and fecal metabolome of Thoroughbred racehorses. After four weeks of supplementation, beetroot juice did not raise the plasma nitrate significantly, and there was no rise in plasma nitrite. Researchers theorized that little conversion of nitrite to nitric oxide would occur in the stomach due to its normal pH. Together, these findings suggested racehorses do not have the ability to use nitric oxide as humans do. Beetroot juice had no effect on the gut metabolome, as fecal metabolites were similar in treatment and control groups. Because of these observations, researchers concluded that beetroot juice would not improve performance.^*

In regard to antioxidant support for performance horses, Kentucky Equine Research has conducted several studies in exercising horses that show the benefits of coenzyme Q10, specifically the form found in Nano-Q10. Benefits include the potential to reduce inflammation and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels. Nano-Q10 is also recommended for horses with myopathies. Nano-E is a water-dispersible, natural-source vitamin E that also strengthens antioxidant defenses in athletic horses.

Learn more about the use of antioxidants in high-performance horses with elevated GGT here.

^*Waring, R.H., J.O. Hunter, C. Turner, C. Batty, and P.H.L. Ramzan. 2019. Nitrate supplementation in Thoroughbred racehorses: Addition of beetroot juice to the equine diet and effects on the gut metabolome. Integrative Food, Nutrition and Metabolism 6:1-4.