By Amanda Mlekush
To study how female athletes may enhance their performance using specific types of nutrients, Dr. Jennifer Kurtz from App State’s Department of Kinesiology traveled to the United Kingdom this summer to join other researchers and discuss plans for future research related to beetroot juice supplementation.
Kurtz, who received a grant from App State’s Office of International Programs (OIP), collaborated with leading experts at Bangor University in Wales and Loughborough University, which has been internationally recognized for its excellence in sport science research.
At Bangor University, she met with Dr. Sophie Harrison who researches female physiology, sport and exercise immunology, nutrition and menstrual cycle symptom management. Kurtz said she was able to tour Bangor’s university laboratory spaces, and share information about the research she is conducting in Boone at Levine Hall.
After traveling to Loughborough University (Image shows exterior of university building; photo provided), Kurtz met with potential collaborators and advanced discussions about an upcoming research study for this fall, which will analyze how beetroot juice may affect performance outcomes by examining how nitrates affect menstrual cycle complexity and hormone profile.
“My passion for researching women’s health and performance stems from the fact women have historically been underrepresented in sports science research, despite increasing participation in competitive and recreational athletics,” Kurtz said. “Much of what we know about exercise performance, nutrition, and recovery has been developed based on male-dominated studies, and does not include sex-specific variables—such as the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptives, and sex-specific adaptations—and how they can affect training outcomes and recovery.”
Kurtz added that beetroot juice has been studied as a performance-enhancing nutrient for men’s athletic performance, but unfortunately that research related to women’s athletic performance is lacking.
“Their willingness of the UK researchers I met who are willing to mentor, collaborate, and share tools aligned perfectly with my vision of building a research portfolio that not only fills knowledge gaps but also empowers female athletes with evidence-based strategies for performance and health,” Kurtz said. “This area of research isn’t just necessary—it’s deeply motivating, and I feel a strong sense of responsibility to contribute to it.”
Woman with long blonde hair
Dr. Jennifer Kurtz