In February 2019 researchers from the UK published the results of their study to assess the effect of nitrate in beetroot juice on blood pressure levels. A total of 15 healthy men and women, aged 22-40 years, with no history of increased blood pressure levels, were included in the study. The individuals consumed either beetroot juice containing nitrate or beetroot juice from which the nitrate had been removed. The blood pressure level was then measured at 30 min, 60 min and over the following 24 hours using an ambulatory blood pressure monitor. This process was then repeated within 7 days with the individuals consuming the alternate juice. Results showed that the beetroot juice containing nitrate lowered the systolic blood pressure level at 30 min whereas the beetroot juice without the nitrate had no effect. A smaller reduction in the systolic blood pressure level was observed at 60 min. However the effect of the beetroot juice with nitrate was not sustained over the following 24 hours.
Kukadia S et al. A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study of the Effect of Beetroot Juice Containing Dietary Nitrate on Aortic and Brachial Blood Pressure Over 24 h. Front Physiol. 2019 Feb 4;10:47.