Chronic effects of nitrate supplementation with a newly designed beetroot formulation on biochemical and hemodynamic parameters of individuals presenting risk factors for cardiovascular diseases: A pilot study

Abstract

Dietary nitrate has been associated with nitric oxide bioconversion and beneficial vascular effects. A randomized, controlled, crossover and placebo 3-week supplementation trial with a beetroot-cereal bar enriched in nitrate (9.5 ± 0.05 mmol) and polyphenols was performed on patients displaying three risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. The beetroot-cereal bar formulation was elected because it showed the highest nitrate, phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity than beetroot chips and juice. Plasmatic nitrate and nitrite were increased ≈15 and ≈7 fold, respectively, endothelial function was improved, arterial stiffness was reduced and arterial blood pressures, both systolic and diastolic, were reduced by ≈−14.0 mm Hg and ≈−6.5 mm Hg, respectively. The nitrate and phenolic compound bioacessibility from the beetroot-cereal bar were 85% and 68% after intestinal uptake of simulated gastrointestinal digestion, respectively. Beetroot-cereal bar may be an effective strategy to improve cardiovascular parameters in patients presenting risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords

• Beetroot-cereal bar
• Nitric oxide
• In vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion
• Endothelial function
• Hemodynamic parameters