Kowsar Zahedan J Res Med Sci 2383-2894 21 1 2019 2 4 10.5812/zjrms.86250 Maryam Lotfi Msc of exercise physiology, department of exercise physiology, faculty of sport sciences,Razi university, kermanshah, iran Mohammad Azizi Assistant professor of exercise physiology, Department of exercise physiology, Faculty of sport sciences, Razi University, kermanshah, iran , Assistant professor of exercise physiology, Department of exercise physiology, Faculty of sport sciences, Razi University, kermanshah, iran Worya Tahmasebi Assistant professor of exercise physiology, Department of exercise physiology, Faculty of sport sciences, Razi University, kermanshah, iran Parviz Bashiri Assistant professor, Department of animal science, Faculty of animal science, Razi University, kermanshah, iran Research Article 2019 1 26 2018 11 10 2019 2 4 2019 01 31 Background : One of the beverages improving athletic performance is beetroot juice. Objectives : The aim of the present study was to investigate if six weeks of beetroot juice ingestion can increase VO ₂max and improve the performance of female soccer players. Methods : 20 female soccer players (age: 23.13 ± 0.77 years) were selected and assigned into two groups: experimental (beetroot juice, n = 10) and control (placebo, n = 10). The Bruce test was first done to assess VO ₂max without drinking beetroot juice. Then, the experimental group started consuming 200 mL of the juice two hours before each training session for six weeks. Finally, the second Bruce test was performed after six weeks of beetroot juice ingestion. Results : There was a significant increase in VO ₂max in the experimental and control groups from pretest to posttest (P < 0.001). In addition, the results of independent samples t-test showed there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in VO ₂max (P < 0.001, t = 12.39). Conclusions : The present study provides evidence that beetroot juice positively affects performance and increases the maximum volume of oxygen consumption in female soccer players. Therefore, we can propose this juice to female soccer players to improve their performance. http://zjrms.com/en/articles/86250.html https://neoscriber.org/cdn/dl/e299e72e-286e-11e9-9f5a-4b1070e766cb