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Acute and chronic effects of beetroot supplementation on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in humans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2015

E. Turner  and
S. Mushtaq
E. Turner
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Chester, UK
S. Mushtaq
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Chester, UK
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Abstract

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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 74 , Issue OCE1: Summer Meeting, 14–17 July 2014, Carbohydrates in health: friends or foes , 2015 , E112
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2015 

Dietary supplementation of beetroot juice, containing nitrate- a potent vasodilation agent, has been shown to be vasoprotective(Reference Lundberg, Feelisch, Björne, Jansson and Weitzberg1), and dose dependent decreases in blood pressure (BP) have been previously demonstrated(2,3). To our knowledge there has been only one study investigating the effect of beetroot supplementation in humans on arterial stiffness, measured using pulsewave velocity (PWV) and, although there was no effect of supplementation on PWV, there was a significant reduction due to beetroot supplementation in acute diastolic BP (3hrs, P = 0·023)(Reference Hobbs, Goulding, Nguyen, Malaver, Walker, George and Lovegrove4).

A double-blind, randomised, cross-over intervention trial was carried out in a cohort of 12 healthy male participants (mean age (SEM) = 43 (2·1) yrs, BMI = 27·8 (1·1) kg.m2) who underwent both beetroot juice and placebo supplementation for 14 days. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of 6·45 mmol of nitrate in a concentrated 70 ml beetroot drink (James White Ltd, Ipswich, UK) on systolic and diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and arterial stiffness (PWV, aortic augmentation index (Aix), brachial Aix) in humans.

BP and arterial stiffness measurements weretaken using PWV (Arteriograph, TensioMed,Hungary). Measurements were taken intriplicate at baseline, 3 hours post-supplementation (either beetroot juice orplacebo) and post-intervention (day 15). This was followed by a 7-day washoutperiod before participants were transferred to the alternate supplement.

Table 1 shows that there was no significant acute or short term effect of beetroot juice supplementation on the parameters measured when compared to placebo. However, there was a significant decrease in systolic BP (P = 0·009), diastolic BP (P = 0·035), MAP (P = 0·017), aortic and brachial AIX (P = 0·042 and 0·041 respectively), 3hours post beetroot supplementation.

Table 1. Effect of beetroot juice supplementation on BP and arterial stiffness.

* Significant difference from baseline (P < 0·05).

** Significant difference from baseline (P < 0·01)

These results confirm previous findings(Reference Hobbs, Goulding, Nguyen, Malaver, Walker, George and Lovegrove4) that beetroot supplementation does not have an acute or short term effect on arterial stiffness measures. However, acute effects on arterial stiffness and BP within the beetroot juice supplementation group were observed. Further large scale studies on dietary nitrate supplementation and cardiovascular health are required to further assess efficacy.

References

1.Lundberg, JO, Feelisch, M, Björne, H, Jansson, EA, & Weitzberg, E (2006). Cardioprotective effects of vegetables: Is nitrate the answer? Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, 15(4), 359–362.Google Scholar
2.Kapil, V, Alexandra, BM, Okorie, M, Maleki-Toyserkani, S, Akram, F, Farkhanda, R, Arghandawi, S, Pearl, V, Benjamin, N., Loukogeorgakis, S, MacAllister, R, Hobbs, A, Webb, A & Ahluwalia, A (2010). Inorganic Nitrate Supplementation Lowers Blood Pressure in Humans: Role for Nitrate-Derived NO. Hypertension, 56(2): 274–281Google Scholar
3.Webb, A, Patel, N, Loukogeorgakis, S, Okorie, M, Aboud, Z, Misra, S, Rashid, R, Miall, P, Deanfield, J, Benjamin, N, MacAllister, R, Hobbs, A & Ahluwalia, A (2008) Acute Blood Pressure Lowering, Vasoprotective, and Antiplatelet Properties of Dietary Nitrate via Bioconversion to Nitrite. Hypertension: 51(3): 784–790Google Scholar
4.Hobbs, D, Goulding, M, Nguyen, A, Malaver, T, Walker, C, George, T & Lovegrove, J (2013) Acute ingestion of beetroot bread increases endothelium-independent vasodilation and lowers diastolic blood pressure in Healthy Men: A randomized controlled Trial1–4. J. Nutr. 143(9), 1399.Google Scholar
Figure 0

Table 1. Effect of beetroot juice supplementation on BP and arterial stiffness.