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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Jul 22;11(7):1683.
doi: 10.3390/nu11071683.

Acute Supplementation with Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Juice Causes a Greater Increase in Plasma Nitrite and Reduction in Blood Pressure of Older Compared to Younger Adults

Luke Stanaway  1 , Kay Rutherfurd-Markwick  2   3 , Rachel Page  3   4 , Marie Wong  3   5 , Wannita Jirangrat  6 , Koon Hoong Teh  5 , Ajmol Ali  7   8
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Acute Supplementation with Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Juice Causes a Greater Increase in Plasma Nitrite and Reduction in Blood Pressure of Older Compared to Younger Adults

Luke Stanaway et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation has been shown to improve cardiovascular and cognitive function in younger and older adults via increased nitric oxide production. However, it is unclear whether the level of effects differs between the two groups. We hypothesized that acute supplementation with nitrate-rich beetroot juice would improve cardiovascular and cognitive function in older and younger adults, with the potential for greater improvements in older adults. Thirteen younger (18-30 years) and 11 older (50-70 years) adults consumed either 150 mL of nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR; 10.5 mmol nitrate) or placebo (PL; 1 mmol nitrate) in a double-blind, crossover design, 2.25 h prior to a 30-min treadmill walk. Plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations, blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), cognitive function, mood and perceptual tests were performed throughout the trial. BR consumption significantly increased plasma nitrate (p < 0.001) and nitrite (p = 0.003) concentrations and reduced systolic BP (p < 0.001) in both age groups and reduced diastolic BP (p = 0.013) in older adults. Older adults showed a greater elevation in plasma nitrite (p = 0.038) and a greater reduction in diastolic BP (p = 0.005) following BR consumption than younger adults. Reaction time was improved in the Stroop test following BR supplementation for both groups (p = 0.045). Acute BR supplementation increased plasma nitrite concentrations and reduced diastolic BP to a greater degree in older adults; whilst systolic BP was reduced in both older and younger adults, suggesting nitrate-rich BR may improve cardiovascular health, particularly in older adults due to the greater benefits from reductions in diastolic BP.

Keywords: aging; beetroot juice; blood pressure; cognition; nitric oxide.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic of the study protocol. CT, cognitive tests; PT, perceptual tests; BF, breakfast; BP, blood pressure; BS, blood sample; HR, heart rate.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Plasma nitrite concentration ([NO2−]) (nM) pre- (Pre Sup), post-supplementation (Post Sup) and post-exercise (Post Ex) with beetroot juice (BR) and placebo (PL) in younger (Yng) (n = 13) and older (Old) adults (n = 11). (B) Plasma nitrate concentration ([NO3−]) (µM) pre- (Pre Sup), post-supplementation (Post Sup) and post-exercise (Post Ex) with beetroot juice (BR) and placebo (PL) in younger (Yng) and older (Old) adults. Values are expressed as means ± SD. * Significant mean difference between treatment (placebo vs. beetroot), and time (pre- vs. post-supplementation) (p < 0.05). # Significant mean difference between treatment, time and age (p < 0.05).
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) pre- and post-supplementation with beetroot juice (BR) and placebo (PL) in younger (n = 13) and older adults (n = 11). (B) Change in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (mmHg) pre- and post-supplementation with beetroot juice (BR) and placebo (PL) in younger and older adults. Values are expressed as means ± SD. * Significant mean difference between change in blood pressure (A,B) and change in blood pressure between older and younger adults (B) (p < 0.05).
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