A single dose of a beetroot-based nutritional gel improves endothelial function in the elderly with cardiovascular risk factors

Beetroot consumption has been associated with increased NO bioconversion, which may promote beneficial effects on vascular health. The present study evaluated the effects of a beetroot-based nutritional gel (BG) on endothelial function, arterial stiffness and blood pressure in the elderly with cardiovascular risk factors. Twenty elderly individuals were submitted to BG and nitrate-depleted gel (PLA) interventions. Brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), reactive hyperaemia (RH), blood flow velocity (BFV), pulse wave velocity (PWVβ), augmentation index (AI), stiffness parameter (β), pressure-strain elasticity modulus (Ep) and arterial compliance (AC) were measured 120 min after interventions. Urinary nitrate, nitrite, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured at baseline, 120 min and 180 min after interventions. BG intervention promoted increase (P < 0.05) in FMD (77%), BFV (31%), RH (18%) and urinary nitrite (214%) and nitrate (283%) compared with PLA. A single dose of a new food matrix rich in dietary nitrate improves NO bioconversion and endothelial function in the elderly.