The Influence of Beetroot Juice on Racial Disparities in Vascular Health

NCT ID: NCT05132556

Last Updated: 2023-10-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 40 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-11-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-10-04

Brief Summary

Black adults are 30% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to White adults, and more than half of this racial disparity in cardiovascular mortality may be attributed to the substantially greater prevalence of high blood pressure and vascular dysfunction in Black adults. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent signaling molecule and key regular of vascular function that is suspected to be reduced in black individuals, but can be enriched by dietary nitrate (e.g., arugula, spinach, beets). The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that increasing NO bioavailability via nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BRJ) will lower blood pressure and improve vascular health in Black adults.

Detailed Description

The investigators long-term research goal is to investigate mechanisms accounting for the higher prevalence of CVD and high blood pressure in Black individuals, and identify effective preventive strategies. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous molecule that plays an essential role in the regulation of vascular tone and blood pressure regulation. Some, but not all, studies have observed reduced NO bioavailability in Black individuals, which may contribute to racial disparities in vascular health. Dietary nitrate supplementation using beetroot juice (BRJ) is demonstrated to increase circulating NO, lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness, and improve blood pressure regulation in clinical populations and health individuals. The central hypothesis is that increasing NO bioavailability by nitrate-rich BRJ supplementation will lower blood pressure and improve vascular health in Black adults. The investigators acknowledge that racial differences are not entirely driven by ancestry, and thus will assess and account for sociocultural factors and health behaviors (i.e., sleep, physical activity, and nutrition) that may contribute to racial health disparities.

Conditions

Blood Pressure; Racial Disparities; Cardiovascular Risk Factor

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice (~12.8 mmol)

Participants will have blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and blood samples (from venipuncture) assessed before and after the nitrate-rich beetroot juice (\~12.8 mmol).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Acute Beetroot Juice

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will ingest a beetroot juice supplement with and without inorganic nitrate to determine the effects of acute dietary nitrate ingestion on blood pressure and arterial stiffness

Beetroot juice with nitrate removed

Participants will have blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and blood samples (from venipuncture) assessed before and after the beetroot juice with nitrate removed.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Acute Beetroot Juice

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will ingest a beetroot juice supplement with and without inorganic nitrate to determine the effects of acute dietary nitrate ingestion on blood pressure and arterial stiffness

Interventions

Acute Beetroot Juice

Participants will ingest a beetroot juice supplement with and without inorganic nitrate to determine the effects of acute dietary nitrate ingestion on blood pressure and arterial stiffness

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Between 18-39 years of age
• Body mass index (BMI) below 30 kg/m^2
• Free from signs or symptoms of neurologic, cardiovascular (e.g., heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia), metabolic, and/or renal disease
• Have a blood pressure no lower than 90/50 mmHg
• Are not currently smoking, using smokeless tobacco, nor smoked within the past 12 months

Exclusion Criteria

• Low blood pressure - less than 90/50 mmHg
• History of cardiovascular disease
• History of cancer
• History of diabetes
• History of kidney disease
• Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m^2)
• Smoking or tobacco use
• Current pregnancy
• Nursing mothers
• Communication barriers

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 39 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Georgia Southern University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Gregory Grosicki

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Gregory Grosicki, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Georgia Southern University

Locations

Biodynamics and Human Performance Center

Savannah, Georgia, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

H22040

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id