Dietary Nitrate and Healthy Older Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Blood Pressure; Brain Metabolism; Cognitive Change; Functional Capacity
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-rich beetroot juice; Dietary Supplement: Nitrate-depleted beetroot juice

• Registration Number: NCT03473678
• Lead Sponsor: University of Exeter

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2014-02-12
• Primary Completion: 2015-05-28
• Study Completion: 2018-01
• Study First Submitted: 2018-01-31
• Status Verified: 2018-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-03-14
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-03-14
• Study First Posted: 2018-03-22
• Last Update Posted: 2018-03-22

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

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

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Exclusion Criteria

1. involved in regular structured exercise

2. receiving medication for:

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

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Nitrate-rich beetroot juice	Nitrate-rich beetroot juice	2 x 70mL concentrated juice per day for 10 days
Nitrate-depleted beetroot juice	Nitrate-depleted beetroot juice	2 x 70mL concentrated juice per day for 10 days

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Blood pressure	10 days	Change in blood pressure between interventions

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
6 minute walk test	10 days	change in performance of 6 minute walk test
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
Brain metabolism	10 days	change in brain metabolites measured measured by 1H MRS
Microbiome	10 days	change in oral microbiome measured by sequencing bacterial 16S rRNA genes

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter; 🇬🇧 Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom