A study from the University of Exeter, Exeter, England, found that regular consumption of beetroot juice may help lower blood pressure in adults over 60 years of age.
Beetroot is naturally rich in micronutrients and minerals, and its nitrate content plays a central role in this effect.
Evidence has shown that poor oral health and microbial imbalances can reduce the body’s ability to convert dietary nitrate into nitric oxide, a compound essential for blood pressure regulation. These findings highlight the potential cardiovascular benefits of nitrate-rich foods, such as beetroot juice.
Study Details
The placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial involved 39 participants aged less than 30 years and 36 healthy elderly individuals aged 60-70 years.
Individuals from both the group consumed the nitrate-rich beetroot juice (750 mg of nitrate) daily for 2 weeks and then, after a 2-week washout period, a placebo version of the juice without nitrate.
Researchers analyzed the oral microbiomes of the participants through gene sequencing before and after a 2-week regimen of twice-daily antiseptic mouthwash use.
Key Findings
