Acute ingestion of beetroot bread increases NO and decreases blood pressure

[Nelson Vergel]

Another study that shows the benefits of the nitric oxide generation properties of beetroot (spinach, celery and other vegetables also have a lot of nitrites and nitrates)

Interesting idea of making bread with beetroot.

Nitric oxide is also very important in preserving healthy erectile function. I would love to see a study that looks into beetroot and other vegetables and their effect on ED with and without PED5 inhibitors like Viagra or Cialis.


J Nutr. 2013 Sep;143(9):1399-405. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.175778. Epub 2013 Jul 24.
Acute ingestion of beetroot bread increases endothelium-independent vasodilation and lowers diastolic blood pressure in healthy men: a randomized controlled trial.

Hobbs DA, Goulding MG, Nguyen A, Malaver T, Walker CF, George TW, Methven L, Lovegrove JA.
Source

Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, UK.

Abstract

Dietary nitrate, from beetroot, has been reported to lower blood pressure (BP) by the sequential reduction of nitrate to nitrite and further to NO in the circulation. However, the impact of beetroot on microvascular vasodilation and arterial stiffness is unknown. In addition, beetroot is consumed by only 4.5% of the UK population, whereas bread is a staple component of the diet. Thus, we investigated the acute effects of beetroot bread (BB) on microvascular vasodilation, arterial stiffness, and BP in healthy participants. Twenty-three healthy men received 200 g bread containing 100 g beetroot (1.1 mmol nitrate) or 200 g control white bread (CB; 0 g beetroot, 0.01 mmol nitrate) in an acute, randomized, open-label, controlled crossover trial. The primary outcome was postprandial microvascular vasodilation measured by laser Doppler iontophoresis and the secondary outcomes were arterial stiffness measured by Pulse Wave Analysis and Velocity and ambulatory BP measured at regular intervals for a total period of 6 h. Plasma nitrate and nitrite were measured at regular intervals for a total period of 7 h. The incremental area under the curve (0-6 h after ingestion of bread) for endothelium-independent vasodilation was greater (P = 0.017) and lower for diastolic BP (DBP; P = 0.032) but not systolic (P = 0.99) BP after BB compared with CB. These effects occurred in conjunction with increases in plasma and urinary nitrate (P < 0.0001) and nitrite (P < 0.001). BB acutely increased endothelium-independent vasodilation and decreased DBP. Therefore, enriching bread with beetroot may be a suitable vehicle to increase intakes of cardioprotective beetroot in the diet and may provide new therapeutic perspectives in the management of hypertension.

 

[Gene Devine]

I now add 1 tsp of beetroot concentrate to my pre-work out performance drink and before bed with supps from my stack and I can say it has enhanced vasiodialation effects notwithstanding how healthy it is for one as it's a powerful antioxidant as well.