Effects of Beetroot and Pomegranate Juice Supplementation on Creatine Kinase and C-Reactive Protein in Amateur Soccer Players
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Submitted
December 28, 2024
Published
November 8, 2025
Abstract
Background: Intense physical activity, such as football (soccer), can induce exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and associated inflammatory responses. These perturbations can lead to increased levels in serum biomarkers such as creatine kinase (CK) and C-reactive protein (CRP). In response, athletes increasingly employ various recovery modalities, with nutritional interventions featuring antioxidant properties representing a prominent strategy.
Aims: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of beetroot juice (BEJ) and pomegranate juice (POJ)—beverages recognized for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential—, on modulating CK and CRP levels in football players throughout a regular training cycle.
Participants and Methods: A cohort of 18 amateur football players was allocated into three groups (n=6 per group): a pomegranate juice (POJ) group; a beetroot juice (BEJ) group; and a placebo (PLA) group. Baseline CK and CRP levels were determined before and after a high intensity training (HIT) session prior to supplementation. Participants then consumed their daily supplement for 22 days. CK and CRP levels were re-assessed 24 hours before and after HIT sessions on days 12 and 22 of the intervention.
Results: Following the 22-day supplementation period, CK levels was significantly lower in both POJ (209.30 ± 44.25 IU/L, p < 0.0001) and BEJ (188.27 ± 26.29 IU/L p < 0.0001) compared to the PLA group (327.75 ± 15.32 IU/L). No statistically significant difference in CK reduction was observed between the POJ and BEJ groups (p >0.05). In contrast, CRP levels did not exhibit any significant changes across the groups at any measurement point (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: The findings reveal that both pomegranate and beet juices supplementation offer comparable protective effects against EMID, as demonstrated by the attenuation of post-exercise CK levels. This underlines the significance of the quality and diversity of bioactive compounds in nutritional recovery strategies. The study also highlights the complex relationship between exercise, muscle damage, and systemic inflammation, necessitating the exploration of further markers for a complete assessment.
Keywords: Beta vulgaris; Punica granatum; Antioxidant Supplementation; Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD); C-Reactive Protein; Team Sports Nutrition; Recovery Strategies.
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Ammar, A., Turki, M., Chtourou, H., Hammouda, O., Trabelsi, K., Kallel, C., Abdelkarim, O., Hoekelmann, A., Bouaziz, M., Ayadi, F., Driss, T., & Souissi, N. (2016). Pomegranate Supplementation Accelerates Recovery of Muscle Damage and Soreness and Inflammatory Markers after a Weightlifting Training Session. PLOS ONE, 11(10), e0160305. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160305
Ammar, A., Turki, M., Hammouda, O., Chtourou, H., Trabelsi, K., Bouaziz, M., Abdelkarim, O., Hoekelmann, A., Ayadi, F., Souissi, N., Bailey, S., Driss, T., & Yaich, S. (2017). Effects of Pomegranate Juice Supplementation on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers Following Weightlifting Exercise. Nutrients, 9(8), 819. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080819
Barnett, A. (2006). Using recovery modalities between training sessions in elite athletes. Does it help? Sports Medicine, 36(9), 781–796.
Bazaria, B., & Kumar, P. (2016). Compositional Changes in Functional Attributes of Vacuum Concentrated Beetroot Juice: Vacuum Concentration on Beetroot Juice Composition. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 40(6), 1215–1222. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfpp.12705
Beals, K., Allison, K. F., Darnell, M., Lovalekar, M., Baker, R., Nieman, D. C., Vodovotz, Y., & Lephart, S. M. (2017). The effects of a tart cherry beverage on reducing exercise-induced muscle soreness. Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 25(1), 53–63. https://doi.org/10.3233/IES-160645
Beavers, K. M., Brinkley, T. E., & Nicklas, B. J. (2010). Effect of exercise training on chronic inflammation. Clinica Chimica Acta, 411(11–12), 785–793. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2010.02.069
Becker, M., Sperlich, B., Zinner, C., & Achtzehn, S. (2020). Intra-Individual and Seasonal Variation of Selected Biomarkers for Internal Load Monitoring in U-19 Soccer Players. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 838. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00838
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Brancaccio, P., Lippi, G., & Maffulli, N. (2010). Biochemical markers of muscular damage. Clin Chem Lab Med, 48(6), 757–767. https://doi.org/DOI%252010.1515/CCLM.2010.179
Clifford, T., Bell, O., West, D. J., Howatson, G., & Stevenson, E. J. (2016a). Antioxidant-rich beetroot juice does not adversely affect acute neuromuscular adaptation following eccentric exercise. Journal of Sports Sciences, 35(8), 812–819. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2016.1192670
Clifford, T., Bell, O., West, D. J., Howatson, G., & Stevenson, E. J. (2016b). The effects of beetroot juice supplementation on indices of muscle damage following eccentric exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 116(2), 353–362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3290-x
Clifford, T., Berntzen, B., Davison, G. W., West, D. J., Howatson, G., & Stevenson, E. J. (2016). Effects of beetroot juice on recovery of muscle function and performance between bouts of repeated sprint exercise. Nutrients, 8(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8080506
Clifford, T., Constantinou, C. M., Keane, K. M., West, D. J., Howatson, G., & Stevenson, E. J. (2017). The plasma bioavailability of nitrate and betanin from Beta vulgaris rubra in humans. European Journal of Nutrition, 56(3), 1245–1254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1173-5
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Authors
Kerrour, N. S., Guendouze, N., Remini, H. ., Lakhdara, N. ., & Zaabar, S. (2025). Effects of Beetroot and Pomegranate Juice Supplementation on Creatine Kinase and C-Reactive Protein in Amateur Soccer Players. The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 9(20), 271–286. https://doi.org/10.51745/najfnr.9.20.271-286
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