Joel M. Gore, MD Reviewing Kapil V et al., Hypertension 2015 Feb 65:320
Daily beet juice may have potential as a “natural” method of improving systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Dietary inorganic nitrates are converted after ingestion to the vasodilator nitric oxide. Investigators in the U.K. assessed whether beet juice, a source of dietary nitrates, might lower blood pressure (BP) in 64 patients with hypertension. One author has interests in a beet-juice manufacturer.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial supplied 250 mL daily of beet juice or nitrate-depleted beet juice (placebo) for 4 weeks after a 2-week run-in followed by a 2-week washout. All patients completed the dietary intervention. Beeturia and fecal discoloration were common. Consumption of dietary nitrates was associated with a decrease in clinical BP; mean systolic BP significantly decreased from baseline by 7.7 mm Hg, and mean diastolic BP decreased by 2.4 mm Hg (P=0.05). A similar, significant pattern for both systolic BP and diastolic BP in the dietary nitrates group was seen in home BP measures within 1 week and in 24-hour ambulatory BP measurements over the entire 24-hour period. In the placebo group, no changes were seen on BP measures. Dietary nitrate consumption also was associated with improved vascular function. No changes in heart rate after dietary nitrates were seen compared with baseline or with placebo.
Comment
Although the study is too short to support any claims of long-term blood pressure control, this “natural” method of lowering blood pressure has great promise. Further clinical trials will be necessary before its widespread adoption. At this time, ingestion of beet juice or beet soup (borscht) may provide an alternative method to control BP, in addition to being an excellent source of fiber.
Citation(s):
Kapil V et al. Dietary nitrate provides sustained blood pressure lowering in hypertensive patients: A randomized, phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Hypertension 2015 Feb; 65:320. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.114.04675)
