Blood Pressure, Cognitive Change, Functional Capacity, Brain Metabolism
Conditions
Brief summary
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
Detailed 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.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTNitrate-rich beetroot juice
concentrated beetroot juice
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTNitrate-depleted beetroot juice
concentrated beetroot juice
Sponsors
University of Exeter
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
70 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | 10 days | Change in blood pressure between interventions |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen cost of exercise | 10 days | Change in oxygen consumption during exercise |
| Serial Subtraction test | 10 days | change in performance of the Serial Subtraction test |
| Microbiome | 10 days | change in oral microbiome measured by sequencing bacterial 16S rRNA genes |
| Brain metabolism | 10 days | change in brain metabolites measured measured by 1H MRS |
| 6 minute walk test | 10 days | change in performance of 6 minute walk test |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed