Scientists talked about the effect of beetroot juice on blood pressure in the elderly

The effect of nitrate-rich beetroot juice on blood pressure in the elderly may be related to changes in the oral microbiome. This conclusion was reached by scientists from the University of Exeter, the results of the work were published on August 31 in the journal Science Daily.

The authors explained that participants in the older group who took concentrated beetroot juice twice a day for two weeks experienced a decrease in blood pressure. At the same time, no such effect was recorded in young people. The researchers noted that the result is associated with the suppression of conditionally harmful bacteria in the oral cavity, which allows the body to more efficiently convert nitrates into nitric oxide, which regulates the condition of blood vessels.

"We know that a nitrate-rich diet has health benefits, and older people produce less of their own nitric oxide as they age. They also tend to have higher blood pressure, which may be associated with cardiovascular complications such as heart attack and stroke. Encouraging older people to consume more nitrate-rich vegetables can have significant long-term health benefits. The good news is that if you don't like beetroot, there are many nitrate—rich alternatives such as spinach, arugula, fennel, celery, and cabbage," said Annie Vanhatalo, a professor at the University of Exeter.

According to the publication, 39 people under the age of 30 and 36 volunteers aged 60-70 participated in the trial. Each of them received either a high-nitrate juice or a placebo version of the drink for two-week periods. A two-week "washout period" was maintained between the study phases. The composition of the oral microbiome was recorded by sequencing bacterial genes.

The scientists noted that the composition of bacteria had changed in both groups, but elderly volunteers showed a significant decrease in the level of Prevotella bacteria and the growth of Neisseria, which are considered beneficial to health. As a result, it was in this group that a noticeable decrease in blood pressure was recorded.

Andy Jones, a professor at the University of Exeter, said that eating foods rich in nitrates not only lowers blood pressure, but also has an anti-inflammatory effect. According to him, this opens up prospects for large-scale studies that will take into account lifestyle and gender differences in response to such dietary supplements.

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On August 24, Evgeny Kokin, cardiologist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), PhD, spoke about proper nutrition for heart health. According to him, special attention should be paid to the ratio of fats — no more than 1 part saturated to 10 parts unsaturated, and trans fats should be completely excluded if possible. Salt should be limited to 5 grams per day, especially for hypertension. It is also important to control the caloric intake, since excess weight is a direct risk factor for heart attack.

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