Acute and Chronic Effects of Red Beetroot Juice on High-Fat Meal-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction and Cardiometabolic Disturbances

Aside from aging, numerous factors increase the risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) including diet and nutrition. High-fat meal consumption induces postprandial vascular endothelial dysfunction and other cardiometabolic disturbances (e.g. dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia) in normal weight individuals and is exacerbated in overweight/obese individuals. These postprandial responses are likely largely due to activation of pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant pathways. Given that much of the day is spent in the postprandial state, this may further impair cardiovascular health in aging overweight/obese individuals. Interventions that attenuate these responses are needed. Red beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is an excellent source of bioactive compounds including nitrate, flavonoids, phenolic acids, betalains, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid. These bioactive compounds and their metabolites have been shown to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular-protective effects. These effects, particularly the cardiovascular-protective effects, have been primarily attributed to its high content of nitrate since it is converted to nitric oxide independent of the vascular endothelium via the enterosalivary nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway. However, red beetroot juice contains a number of other potentially beneficial bioactive compounds and few studies have aimed to determine whether these compounds work independently, additively, or synergistically in exerting these effects. Given the findings of previously conducted research in the broad area of red beetroot juice consumption and human health, it can be suggested that: 1) acute red beetroot juice consumption may prevent or attenuate the adverse postprandial responses to consuming a high-fat meal in individuals with exaggerated responses; and 2) chronic consumption of red beetroot may improve underlying factors contributing to these exaggerated responses. Accordingly, this project aims to: 1) investigate the efficacy of acute and chronic whole red beetroot juice consumption compared with its bioactive components in attenuating postprandial vascular endothelial dysfunction and adverse cardiometabolic responses to a high-fat meal; and 2) to gain insight into the underlying mechanisms responsible.