In a major research study, which bridges microbiology and diet, Researchers have discovered an important reason for adults to drink beetroot juice.
The study, which was published in a peer-reviewed journal, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, was designed to study the different ages of people who respond to the dietary Nitrates. The study team took on 75 participants and divided them into two distinct groups comprising 39 healthy adults over 30, and people aged 60 and 70. Each participant was enrolled in an exclusive clinical trial that took place over two distinct two-week periods.
To ensure that the results were not ambiguous, the study used an exact crossover study using a placebo. In a two-week time frame, participants took a concentrated dose of beetroot juice containing a high amount of nitrate twice a day.
In the following period of two weeks, the participants drank identical tasting and looking juice, but with all of its Nitrates eliminated. A crucial wash-out interval was added in between the two phases to reset every participant’s system, thus preventing any effects of carry-over from skewing the results.
The researchers then applied advanced technology to sequence bacterial genes. This method functions as an advanced census, carefully recording every kind of microbe that was present in every participant’s mouth prior to and after every juice regimen. Then, they closely tracked the blood pressure of each person, allowing for a clear view of any changes in the body’s physiology.
A notable difference in age groupings
The results showed a fascinating and distinct divergence between young and old. The dental microbiomes of the two groups significantly changed when they consumed the nitrate-rich juice; the outcomes for health were drastically different.
The younger group of participants did not show any statistically significant changes in Blood pressure levels. For the older group, however, the results were shocking. Those who entered the study with higher blood pressure noticed an impressive reduction in blood pressure after two weeks of beetroot-based juice. This beneficial effect was absent when they were drinking the nitrate-stripped placebo. The juice’s effectiveness was directly related to the nitrogen content. The reason for this result is that the story truly becomes revolutionary.
The research revealed that the juice of beetroot triggered a beneficial transformation of the oral microbiome of older adults. In particular, it inhibited an increase in a particular type of bacterium known as Prevotella (which is frequently associated with inflammation and diseases) and facilitated the development of beneficial bacteria such as Neisseria.
The change in bacterial populations is vital because oral microbes represent the first and most crucial stage in a crucial biological process. Dietary Nitrate, which is plentiful in leafy greens and beetroot, is not active. It has to be transformed into an active form, which is a molecule known as nitric oxide, to benefit the body.
The conversion process is carried out by the bacteria that reside on the tongue. Nitric oxide is a potent vasodilator. It sends signals to the smooth muscles that line blood vessels to contract and increase their size. This dilation lowers the resistance of the vessels and improves circulation to all cells in our body. It consequently reduces blood pressure.
Promoting a healthier oral environment helped to make this nitrate-to-nitrite conversion more effective, increasing the bioavailability of nitric Oxide precisely in the group that requires the most. This research is crucial for those who are older because of the dual-edged sword that aging brings.
As we age, the body naturally produces less nitric oxide intrinsically. This is a significant factor in the age-related increase in blood pressure and the increased likelihood of suffering from cardiovascular issues. The study suggests that the dietary beetroot juice containing nitrate can help to replenish this shrinking internal supply by acting as a fuel source externally to support a vital bodily function.
“Beetroot juice has significant benefits for older adults. “It is especially effective in lowering blood pressure and provides an increase in heart health that could be a viable alternative for heart disease.”
The study adds a significant new dimension to an already increasing evidence base. An earlier research study that was published in Nutrition Research had previously demonstrated that drinking beetroot juice daily can reduce blood pressure in obese older adults. However, the benefits would diminish if the consumption were cut off. The new Exeter study offers the elusive what and why, identifying dental microbiomes as the key player in this health drama.
Like all scientifically sound research, researchers recognize that there is more work to be done. In the future, more extensive studies should examine the way that factors such as genetics, biological sex, and lifestyle choices like smoking or oral hygiene impact the way people react to diets containing nitrates.
The messages are clear and powerful. It’s a powerful reminder that at times the most innovative medical treatments aren’t in a lab’s chemical synthesis, instead, in the pantry of nature that is waiting to be opened by our knowledge.