scholarly journals The Effects of Beetroot Juice on Blood Pressure, Microvascular Function and Large-Vessel Endothelial Function: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study in Healthy Older Adults

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jones ◽  
Dunn ◽  
Macdonald ◽  
Kubis ◽  
McMahon ◽  
...  

: Dietary nitrate (NO3−) has been reported to improve endothelial function (EF) and blood pressure (BP). However, most studies only assess large-vessel EF with little research on the microvasculature. Thus, the aim of the present pilot study is to examine NO3− supplementation on microvascular and large-vessel EF and BP. Twenty older adults (63 ± 6 years) were randomized to a beetroot juice (BRJ) or placebo (PLA) group for 28 (±7) days and attended three laboratory visitations. Across visitations, blood pressure, microvascular function and large-vessel EF were assessed by laser Doppler imaging (LDI) with iontophoresis of vasoactive substances and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), respectively. Plasma NO3−concentrations, BP and the presence of NO3− reducing bacteria were also assessed. Plasma NO3− increased following two weeks of BRJ supplementation (p = 0.04) along with a concomitant decrease in systolic and diastolic BP of approximately −6 mmHg and −4 mmHg, respectively (p = 0.04; p = 0.01, respectively). BP remained unchanged in the PLA group. There were no significant differences in endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent microvascular responses between groups. FMD increased by 1.5% following two weeks of BRJ (p = 0.04), with only a minimal (0.1%) change for the PLA group. In conclusion, this pilot study demonstrated that medium-term BRJ ingestion potentially improves SBP, DBP and large-vessel EF in healthy older adults. The improvements observed in the present study are likely to be greater in populations presenting with endothelial dysfunction. Thus, further prospective studies are warranted in individuals at greater risk for cardiovascular disease.

Nutrients ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Raubenheimer ◽  
Danica Hickey ◽  
Michael Leveritt ◽  
Robert Fassett ◽  
Joaquin Ortiz de Zevallos Munoz ◽  
...  

Hypertension ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Demetra D Christou ◽  
Jeung-Ki Yoo ◽  
Moon-Hyon Hwang ◽  
Meredith Luttrell ◽  
Han-Kyul Kim ◽  
...  

Arterial stiffness, an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease, is increased in aging, but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. We hypothesized that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation is partly responsible for increased arterial stiffness and that MR blockade would lead to arterial destiffening in healthy older adults. To test this hypothesis, we administered in a randomized, double blind, crossover study, 100 mg of Eplerenone (MR blocker) or placebo once per day for one month with one month washout, in 23 healthy older adults (age, 64±1 years; mean±SE) and assessed arterial stiffness (aortic, arm and leg pulse wave velocity (PWV; doppler flowmeter) and carotid artery compliance, distensibility, beta-stiffness index, augmentation index (high resolution ultrasonography and applanation tonometry). Despite reductions in blood pressure in response to Eplerenone (systolic blood pressure: 127±3 vs. 120±2 mmHg, P=0.01; diastolic blood pressure: 74±1 vs.72±1 mmHg, P=0.02; placebo vs. Eplerenone), arterial stiffness did not change (aortic PWV, 9.2±1.2 vs. 8.9±1.2m/sec, P=0.5; arm PWV, 11.4±0.6 vs. 11.7±0.7 m/sec, P=0.7; leg PWV, 13.4±0.4 vs.12.8±0.5 m/sec, P=0.3; carotid artery compliance, 0.17±0.02 vs. 0.16±0.02 mm 2 /mmHg, P=0.6; distensibility, 12.7±1.6 vs.13.6±1.5 10 -3 kPa -1 , P=0.6; beta stiffness index, 3.2±0.3 vs. 3.4±0.3, P=0.5; augmentation index, 24.3±2.9 vs. 22.0±2.9 %, P=0.3, placebo vs. Eplerenone). In conclusion, MR blockade does not result in arterial destiffening in healthy older adults despite reductions in blood pressure.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Stanaway ◽  
Kay Rutherfurd-Markwick ◽  
Rachel Page ◽  
Marie Wong ◽  
Wannita Jirangrat ◽  
...  

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.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 964
Author(s):  
Stephen P. Juraschek ◽  
Courtney L. Millar ◽  
Abby Foley ◽  
Misha Shtivelman ◽  
Alegria Cohen ◽  
...  

Reduced sodium meal plans are recommended by the Centers of Disease Control to lower blood pressure in older adults; however, this strategy has not been tested in a clinical trial. The Satter House Trial of Reduced Sodium Meals (SOTRUE) was an individual-level, double-blind, randomized controlled pilot study of adults living in a congregate living facility subsidized by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Adults over age 60 years ate 3 isocaloric meals with two snacks daily for 14 days. The meal plans differed in sodium density (<0.95 vs. >2 mg/kcal), but were equivalent in potassium and macronutrients. Seated systolic BP (SBP) was the primary outcome, while urine sodium-creatinine ratio was used to measure compliance. Twenty participants were randomized (95% women; 95% white; mean age 78 ± 8 years), beginning in 7 October 2019. Retention was 100% with the last participant ending 4 November 2019. Mean baseline SBP changed from 121 to 116 mmHg with the typical sodium diet (−5 mmHg; 95% CI: −18, 8) and from 123 to 112 mmHg with the low sodium diet (−11 mmHg; 95% CI: −15.2, −7.7). Compared to the typical sodium meal plan, the low sodium meal plan lowered SBP by 4.8 mmHg (95% CI: −14.4, 4.9; p = 0.31) and urine sodium-creatinine ratio by 36% (−36.0; 95% CI: −60.3, 3.4; p = 0.07), both non-significant. SOTRUE demonstrates the feasibility of sodium reduction in federally mandated meal plans. A longer and larger study is needed to establish the efficacy and safety of low sodium meals in older adults.


Author(s):  
Daniel H. Craighead ◽  
Thomas C. Heinbockel ◽  
Kaitlin A. Freeberg ◽  
Matthew J. Rossman ◽  
Rachel A. Jackman ◽  
...  

Background High‐resistance inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) is a novel, time‐efficient physical training modality. Methods and Results We performed a double‐blind, randomized, sham‐controlled trial to investigate whether 6 weeks of IMST (30 breaths/day, 6 days/week) improves blood pressure, endothelial function, and arterial stiffness in midlife/older adults (aged 50–79 years) with systolic blood pressure ≥120 mm Hg, while also investigating potential mechanisms and long‐lasting effects. Thirty‐six participants completed high‐resistance IMST (75% maximal inspiratory pressure, n=18) or low‐resistance sham training (15% maximal inspiratory pressure, n=18). IMST was safe, well tolerated, and had excellent adherence (≈95% of training sessions completed). Casual systolic blood pressure decreased from 135±2 mm Hg to 126±3 mm Hg ( P <0.01) with IMST, which was ≈75% sustained 6 weeks after IMST ( P <0.01), whereas IMST modestly decreased casual diastolic blood pressure (79±2 mm Hg to 77±2 mm Hg, P =0.03); blood pressure was unaffected by sham training (all P >0.05). Twenty‐four hour systolic blood pressure was lower after IMST versus sham training ( P =0.01). Brachial artery flow‐mediated dilation improved ≈45% with IMST ( P <0.01) but was unchanged with sham training ( P =0.73). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultured with subject serum sampled after versus before IMST exhibited increased NO bioavailability, greater endothelial NO synthase activation, and lower reactive oxygen species bioactivity ( P <0.05). IMST decreased C‐reactive protein ( P =0.05) and altered select circulating metabolites (targeted plasma metabolomics) associated with cardiovascular function. Neither IMST nor sham training influenced arterial stiffness ( P >0.05). Conclusions High‐resistance IMST is a safe, highly adherable lifestyle intervention for improving blood pressure and endothelial function in midlife/older adults with above‐normal initial systolic blood pressure. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03266510.


2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 625-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul E. Holtzheimer ◽  
Thomas W. Meeks ◽  
Mary E. Kelley ◽  
Mustafa Mufti ◽  
Raymond Young ◽  
...  

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