Nitrate Supplementation and Muscle Blood Flow

University of Iowa10 enrolled

Overview

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of an acute dose of dietary nitrate in the form of beetroot juice on skeletal muscle blood flow in response to dynamic knee extension exercise in healthy older adults. All subjects will receive active (rich in dietary nitrate) or placebo (devoid of nitrate) supplementation.

Dietary nitrate (beetroot juice) is reduced to nitrite and nitric oxide within the digestive system of humans. Nitric oxide exerts potent vasodilator effects, which have been shown to reduce blood pressure and enhance exercise economy in humans. This pressure reducing effect may have implications within the regulation of blood flow during dynamic exercise in older adults.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Vasodilation Blood Pressure Active Hyperemia Aging

Interventions

Super BeetsDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Nitrate rich beetroot powder (10g) acutely

Beetroot powderDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Nitrate devoid beetroot powder (10g) acutely

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 60 YearsMax age: 80 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy older adults 60-80 years of age Exclusion Criteria: * Hypertension, * Smoking, * Heart disease, * Diabetes, * Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2, * Autonomic disorders and other conditions that may alter blood pressure or vascular function * Medications that might normally alter blood pressure or vascular function. * Older women taking hormone replacement therapy medications.

Locations (1)

Medical Education Building

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Skeletal Muscle Blood Flow within the Leg via Doppler Ultrasound

Leg blood flow via Doppler ultrasound examined during dynamic knee extension exercise. Change in blood flow in response to dynamic knee exercise will be measured to examine the influence of dietary nitrate.

Time frame: Pre and 2 hours post acute ingestion of dietary nitrate and placebo with at least 5 days of separation between visits.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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