By Joseph E. Scherger, MD, MPH
Core Faculty, Eisenhower Health Family Medicine Residency Program, Eisenhower Health Center, La Quinta, CA; Clinical Professor, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
SYNOPSIS: Dietary nitrates, such as in beetroot juice, improve the cardiovascular risk profile, lowering blood pressure and enhancing endothelial function.
SOURCE: Alasmari AM, Alsulayyim AS, Alghamdi SM, et al. Oral nitrate supplementation improves cardiovascular risk markers in COPD: ON-BC a randomised controlled trial. Eur Respir J 2024; Jan 11. https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02353-2022 [Online ahead of print].
In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study through the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London and performed in Saudi Arabia, researchers looked at whether a solution of nitrate-rich beetroot juice vs. a same-tasting placebo had hemodynamic effects. The trial included 81 participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who were assigned to drinking beetroot juice or a placebo daily for 12 weeks. Those who took the nitrate-rich drink had lowered blood pressure and improved endothelial function. Exercise capacity also increased as measured by walking distance.
COMMENTARY
Food as medicine dates to long before Western medicine. Some foods, such as beets and beetroot juice, have vasoactive compounds that improve circulation and lower blood pressure. This small study confirms other research on the positive effects of nitrate-
containing foods on cardiovascular health.1,2
REFERENCES
- Corliss J. Nitrates in food and medicine: What’s the story? Harvard Heart Letter. Feb. 1, 2022. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/nitrates-in-food-and-medicine-whats-the-story#:~:text=Some%20short%2Dterm%20studies%20show,no%20relationship%20between%20the%20two
- Stanaway L, Rutherfurd-Markwick K, Page R, Ali A. Performance and health benefits of dietary nitrate supplementation in older adults: A systemic review. Nutrients 2017;9:1171.
