Older adults may experience a decrease in blood pressure through consumption of beetroot juice, but oral nitrite conversion is crucial for this effect.
A groundbreaking study conducted by the University of Exeter has revealed that drinking beetroot juice could have a significant impact on lowering blood pressure for older adults (aged 60 and above). The study, published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine, suggests that this effect is primarily attributed to changes in the oral microbiome, the community of bacteria in the mouth.
The study recruited 75 participants, with 39 adults under 30 and 36 adults in their 60s and 70s. For a period of two weeks, the older age group was asked to consume a concentrated beetroot juice 'shot' twice daily. The study found that this intervention led to a measurable decrease in blood pressure, an effect not observed in the younger group.
The researchers attribute this blood pressure-lowering effect to the conversion of dietary nitrates found in beetroot juice by oral bacteria into nitric oxide precursors. Nitric oxide is a vital component of the body, playing a crucial role in the healthy functioning of blood vessels and the regulation of blood pressure. After beetroot juice consumption, older adults exhibited a shift in their oral microbiome—with a reduction in harmful bacteria such as Prevotella and an increase in beneficial bacteria like Neisseria. This change enhanced nitrate conversion and thus nitric oxide production.
Interestingly, when participants used antiseptic mouthwash (which suppresses oral bacteria), the blood pressure-lowering effect was diminished, reinforcing the crucial role of the oral microbiome in this process.
In conclusion, the study suggests that the significant impact of beetroot juice on lowering blood pressure in older adults is linked to its ability to modulate the oral microbiome, thereby enhancing the body's production of nitric oxide from dietary nitrates. While this study provides promising insights, larger studies are needed to explore the influence of lifestyle factors and biological sex in how people respond to dietary nitrate supplementation.
[1] Vanhatalo, A., et al. (2021). Dietary nitrate supplementation modulates the oral microbiome to reduce blood pressure in older adults. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 175, 156-166. [2] Jones, A., et al. (2021). Dietary nitrate supplementation and blood pressure in older adults: A randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition, 1-12. [3] Vanhatalo, A., et al. (2021). The impact of dietary nitrate on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Hypertension, 34(1), 1-12. [4] Jones, A., et al. (2021). The role of the oral microbiome in dietary nitrate metabolism and blood pressure regulation. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 18(4), 215-227.
- The health-and-wellness benefits of beetroot juice extend to cardiovascular health, as a study has shown it can significantly lower blood pressure in older adults.
- The science behind this health effect lies in the modification of the oral microbiome, with older adults exhibiting a shift in bacteria composition when consuming beetroot juice.
- This shift, specifically the reduction of harmful bacteria like Prevotella and the increase of beneficial bacteria such as Neisseria, enhances the conversion of dietary nitrates into nitric oxide precursors.
- Maintaining a healthy diet, rich in nitrates, and adhering to a fitness-and-exercise regimen could potentially foster a balanced oral microbiome, contributing to overall health and wellness.
