Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 23: A new study suggests that beetroot juice could significantly lower blood pressure in older adults, thanks to its positive impact on the oral microbiome.
Researchers from the University of Exeter, UK, have found that drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice twice daily for two weeks led to noticeable reductions in blood pressure among adults in their 60s and 70s. Interestingly, the same effect was not observed in younger adults, indicating an age-specific benefit.
Published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine, the study points to how dietary nitrates — naturally found in vegetables — are converted by oral bacteria into nitric oxide, a molecule essential for blood vessel health and regulation of blood pressure.
“This study shows that nitrate-rich foods alter the oral microbiome in a way that could result in less inflammation, as well as a lowering of blood pressure in older people,” said Professor Andy Jones, lead researcher on the study.
“This paves the way for larger studies to explore how lifestyle and biological sex affect individual responses to dietary nitrate,” he added.
The study involved 75 participants: 39 under the age of 30 and 36 aged between 60 and 70. Each participant alternated between a nitrate-rich beetroot juice "shot" and a placebo version with nitrates removed, over two-week periods.
Among older participants, researchers noted a drop in harmful Prevotella bacteria and a rise in beneficial Neisseria bacteria, both linked to nitrate processing. The improved bacterial balance enhanced the body’s ability to convert dietary nitrate into nitric oxide, contributing to better blood vessel function.
Professor Anni Vanhatalo, co-author of the study, emphasized that beetroot isn't the only option:
“If you don’t like beetroot, there are plenty of nitrate-rich alternatives like spinach, rocket, fennel, celery, and kale,” she said.
The findings offer promising evidence that simple dietary changes could support cardiovascular health in ageing populations, particularly in managing high blood pressure without medication.