Dietary nitrate supplementation enhances exercise capacity in WHO Group 3 pulmonary hypertension: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised crossover study (EDEN-OX2)

Abstract

Dietary nitrate supplementation, which improves skeletal muscle oxygen utilisation, vascular endothelial function and exercise capacity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, may benefit other lung conditions. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, in 19 adults with Group 3 pulmonary hypertension who desaturated during exercise, 140 mL of nitrate-rich beetroot juice improved endurance shuttle walk time compared with nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo (median (IQR) ESWT NR-BRJ 197 (140-273) s vs PL-BRJ 174 (107-229) s; median difference (MD) (95% CI) 30 (6.19 to 91.07) s, p=0.0281), endothelial function, flow-mediated dilatation (+3.40±5.47% vs -1.33±4.78; MD (95% CI) 4.73 (1.44 to 8.02), p=0.007) and lowered mean arterial blood pressure (-3.9 (-7.4 to -0.4) mm Hg, p=0.028).

Keywords: Ambulatory Oxygen Therapy; Dietary Intake; Exercise; Hypoxia; Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT); Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Respiratory Muscles.