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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
25
100 g of beetroot-based nutritional gel containing approximately 12 mmol of nitrate.
100 g of apple-based nutritional gel containing approximately 0.02 mmol of nitrate.
Changes in endothelial function as evaluated by the flow-mediated dilation.
Time frame: Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by the peak wave velocity.
Time frame: Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the clinical blood pressure
Time frame: Evaluated before, 120 min and 180 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the muscle oxygenation as evaluated by the levels of oxygenated
Time frame: Evaluated 150 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the muscle function as evaluated by the maximal voluntary contraction of the forearm muscle
Time frame: Evaluated before and 180 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in endothelial function as evaluated by blood flow velocity
Time frame: Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in endothelial function as evaluated by reactive hyperemia.
Time frame: Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by augmentation index
Time frame: Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by the stiffness parameter
Time frame: Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by the pressure-strain elasticity modulus
Time frame: Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the arterial stiffness as evaluated by the arterial compliance.
Time frame: Evaluated 120 min after the nutritional intervention
Changes in the muscle oxygenation as evaluated by the levels of deoxygenated hemoglobin
Time frame: Evaluated 150 min after the nutritional intervention
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