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Aging, Nitrate, Endothelial Function and Muscle Oxygenation

Effect of a Beetroot-based Nutritional Gel on Vascular Function and Forearm Muscle Oxygenation Responses in the Elderly at Cardiometabolic Risk

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02772900
Enrollment
25
Registered
2016-05-16
Start date
2015-05-31
Completion date
2016-01-31
Last updated
2016-05-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Abdominal Obesity, Aging, Dyslipidemia, Hypertension

Keywords

Aging, Beetroot, Dietary Nitrate, Functional Food, Vascular Function

Brief summary

Aging has been associated with reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial dysfunction. Beetroot consumption, a nitrate-rich food, has been associated with increased NO bioconversion, which may promote beneficial effects on vascular health. The present study evaluated the effects of a beetroot-based nutritional gel (BG) on vascular function, arterial stiffness and blood pressure in the elderly at cardiometabolic risk. Twenty elderly individuals were submitted to BG and nitrate-depleted gel (PLA) interventions. Brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), blood flow velocity (BFV), peak wave velocity (PWVβ), augmentation index (AI), stiffness parameter (β), pressure-strain elasticity modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC), muscle oxygenation and function were measured 90 min after interventions. Urinary nitrate, nitrite, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured at baseline, 90 min and 150 min after interventions.

Interventions

OTHERBeetroot-based nutritional gel

100 g of beetroot-based nutritional gel containing approximately 12 mmol of nitrate.

OTHERPlacebo

100 g of apple-based nutritional gel containing approximately 0.02 mmol of nitrate.

Sponsors

Rio de Janeiro State Research Supporting Foundation (FAPERJ)
CollaboratorOTHER_GOV
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Elderly participants (≥ 65 years) * Taking between 1 and 3 anti-hypertensive medications for high blood pressure; * Elevated triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL; * Reduced HDL-cholesterol \< 50 mg/dL for women and \< 40 mg/dL for men; * Elevated waist circumference by population definition (male: \> 102 cm and female: \> 88 cm).

Exclusion criteria

elevated fasting glucose (≥ 100 mg/dL), smoking, beetroot allergy, unwillingness to avoid beetroot products during the entire study, other chronic diseases (diabetes, liver disease, etc.), or acutely ill.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Changes in endothelial function as evaluated by the flow-mediated dilation.Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by the peak wave velocity.Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the clinical blood pressureEvaluated before, 120 min and 180 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the muscle oxygenation as evaluated by the levels of oxygenatedEvaluated 150 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the muscle function as evaluated by the maximal voluntary contraction of the forearm muscleEvaluated before and 180 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in endothelial function as evaluated by blood flow velocityEvaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in endothelial function as evaluated by reactive hyperemia.Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by augmentation indexEvaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by the stiffness parameterEvaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by the pressure-strain elasticity modulusEvaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by the arterial compliance.Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the muscle oxygenation as evaluated by the levels of deoxygenated hemoglobinEvaluated 150 min after the nutritional intervention

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026