Dietary Nitrate and Healthy Older Adults

University of Exeter

Status: Completed

Conditions: Functional Capacity; Cognitive Change; Brain Metabolism; Blood Pressure

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-depleted beetroot juice; Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-rich beetroot juice

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03473678

121964

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates the influence of dietary nitrate supplementation on cardiovascular health and physical and cognitive performance in older adults. Participants will receive both a nitrate containing beetroot juice for 10 days and a nitrate depleted beetroot juice for 10 days

Full description

A recent exciting finding is that dietary nitrate supplementation (in the form of beetroot juice) appears to reduce the amount of oxygen needed to complete moderate intensity walking in healthy, young individuals. Nitrate is known to be converted in the body to nitric oxide (NO), a substance which reduces blood pressure and may affect the energy-producing mechanisms inside muscle cells. Exercise tolerance and muscle function typically declines with age and nitrate supplementation therefore may help improve cardiovascular health and the ability to carry out low-intensity daily activities in aging populations. The purpose of this study is to see if healthy, elderly individuals benefit from beetroot juice intake similarly to the effects seen in young adults. If this is indeed the case, then it may suggest that dietary supplementation with a relatively cheap, widely available, and natural food product may improve the ability of healthy elderly individuals to undergo everyday tasks and ultimately improve their quality of life.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 70 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. 70 - 80 years of age
2. male or female

Exclusion criteria

1. involved in regular structured exercise

2. receiving medication for:

   • pulmonary conditions
   • cardiovascular conditions
   • metabolic conditions
   • musculoskeletal conditions
   • ulcerative colitis
   • renal disease

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice

Active Comparator group

Description:

2 x 70mL concentrated juice per day for 10 days

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-rich beetroot juice

Nitrate-depleted beetroot juice

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

2 x 70mL concentrated juice per day for 10 days

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-depleted beetroot juice