Importance of Beetroot Juice as a Compulsory Diatry Food: The Effects of Beetroot Juice on Blood Pressure and Muscle Function

Abstract

Dietary supplementation with beetroot juice (BR) containing ~5-8 mmol of inorganic nitrate (NO3-) increases plasma nitrite concentration ([NO2-]), reduces blood pressure, and may positively influence the physiological responses to exercise. However, the dose-response relationship between the volume of BR ingested and the physiological effects invoked has not been investigated. In a balanced crossover design, 10 healthy males ingested 70, 140 or 280 ml of concentrated BR (containing 4.2, 8.4 and 16.8 mmol NO3-, respectively) or no supplement to establish the effects of BR on resting plasma [NO3-] and [NO2-] over 24 h. Subsequently, on six separate occasions, 10 subjects completed moderate-intensity and severe-intensity cycle exercise tests 2.5 h post-ingestion of 70, 140 and 280 ml BR, or NO3- -depleted BR as placebo (PL). In a randomized open design, 100 male healthy volunteers aged between 12-30 years are assigned to consume the 250 ml of Beetroot juice for three consecutive days up to 9 weeks period. Present study demonstrate that dietary NO3-, administered in the form of beetroot juice (250 mlday for 9 weeks), decreases systolic blood pressure (SBP). These results may provide a mechanism by which nitrate exerts beneficial effects on muscle function with applications to sports performance and a potential therapeutic role in conditions with muscle weakness.