Nitrate Supplementation and Muscle Blood Flow

University of Iowa

Status: Completed

Conditions: Aging; Vasodilation; Active Hyperemia; Blood Pressure

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Super Beets; Dietary Supplement: Beetroot powder

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03459027

201708795

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of an acute dose of dietary nitrate in the form of beetroot juice on skeletal muscle blood flow in response to dynamic knee extension exercise in healthy older adults. All subjects will receive active (rich in dietary nitrate) or placebo (devoid of nitrate) supplementation.

Full description

Dietary nitrate (beetroot juice) is reduced to nitrite and nitric oxide within the digestive system of humans. Nitric oxide exerts potent vasodilator effects, which have been shown to reduce blood pressure and enhance exercise economy in humans. This pressure reducing effect may have implications within the regulation of blood flow during dynamic exercise in older adults.

Enrollment: 10 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy older adults 60-80 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• Hypertension,
• Smoking,
• Heart disease,
• Diabetes,
• Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2,
• Autonomic disorders and other conditions that may alter blood pressure or vascular function
• Medications that might normally alter blood pressure or vascular function.
• Older women taking hormone replacement therapy medications.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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10 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Nitrate Rich Beetroot Powder (nitrate)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Dietary nitrate in the form of beetroot powder (10g) mixed in water will be administered acutely

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Super Beets

Dietary Supplement: Beetroot powder

Placebo Beetroot Powder

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Beetroot powder devoid of nitrate (10g) will be mixed in water and administered acutely

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Super Beets

Dietary Supplement: Beetroot powder