Beetroot's effect on blood pressure is uncertain

This study found that people who drank about one glass of beetroot juice (or rats given a dose of nitrate) had a short-term reduction in blood pressure. The researchers argue that the use of beetroot juice, or other nitrate-rich foods, could be a useful extra treatment option for people with high blood pressure. Despite the interesting findings, the study has some significant limitations: only 15 people were involved it did not look at whether regular consumption of beetroot juice reduced the long-term complications of high blood pressure, such as heart disease Larger studies assessing the long-term effects of beetroot juice on high blood pressure and its complications are needed before it can be recommended as a way of lowering blood pressure.   Where did the story come from? The study was carried out by researchers from the William Harvey Research Institute at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Exeter Medical School, and Kings College London, all in the UK. It was funded by the British Heart Foundation and was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Hypertension. Two of the study's authors disclose a potential conflict of interest as directors of HeartBeet Limited, which appears to be a company that sells beetroot juice and is listed at the same address as the firm that supplied the beetroot juice used in the study. The headlines in the UK media proclaiming that beetroot ...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Food/diet Heart/lungs Source Type: news