Concentrated beetroot juice can significantly reduce blood pressure in people aged 60 and above by modifying the bacteria in their mouths, scientists have discovered.
The latest findings, published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, represent the most comprehensive investigation to date into how nitrate-rich beetroot juice affects blood pressure through changes to the oral microbiome.
It showed that participants in their sixties and seventies who consumed beetroot juice concentrate twice daily over a fortnight experienced notable blood pressure reductions, while younger adults showed no such benefit.
The study revealed that the juice worked by reducing potentially dangerous oral bacteria while promoting beneficial microbes that facilitate the transformation of dietary nitrate into nitric oxide, a compound essential for maintaining healthy blood vessels.
Drinking beetroot juice concentrate twice daily over a fortnight could lead to notable blood pressure reductions
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The investigation involved 75 participants recruited through the NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility, comprising 39 individuals under 30 years old and 36 people in their sixties and seventies.
Researchers employed a crossover design where each participant consumed nitrate-rich beetroot juice regularly for a fortnight, followed by a placebo version with the nitrate removed for another two weeks.
A fortnight-long "wash out" interval separated each phase to allow participants' systems to return to baseline.
The team utilised bacterial gene sequencing techniques to examine the oral microbiome composition both prior to and following each treatment phase.
Support for the trial came from the Exeter Clinical Trials Unit, with funding provided through a BBSRC Industrial Partnership Award.
The research demonstrated that both age groups experienced substantial alterations to their oral microbiome composition following consumption of the nitrate-rich beverage, though the specific bacterial shifts varied between younger and older participants.
Among the older cohort, scientists observed a marked reduction in Prevotella bacteria after consuming the nitrate-enriched juice, alongside increased proliferation of health-promoting bacteria, including Neisseria species.
These microbial modifications appear crucial for enhancing the conversion of dietary nitrate into nitric oxide, a molecule that plays a vital role in blood vessel function and pressure regulation.
The older participants, who began the trial with elevated blood pressure readings compared to their younger counterparts, showed measurable reductions after the nitrate-rich supplementation period but experienced no changes when consuming the placebo beverage.
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The juice promotes beneficial microbes that facilitate the transformation of dietary nitrate into nitric oxide
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What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is a common issue in the UK, particularly among older adults. Without treatment, the condition predisposes individuals to problems like heart attacks and strokes.
Many cases of hypertension go undiagnosed because the condition rarely produces symptoms.
Often, high blood pressure is detected by professionals. It is diagnosed when a patient's blood pressure reading frequently exceeds normal levels, such as over 140/90mmHg.
Patients with consistently high readings may be recommended lifestyle changes or prescribed medication, depending on the severity of their condition.