Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Inter-individual differences in the blood pressure lowering effects of dietary nitrate: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled replicate crossover trial

Lookup NU author(s): Ellie Hayes, Shatha Alhulaefi, Dr Mario Siervo, Dr Rachel Kimble, Dr Oliver ShannonORCiD

Downloads


Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Purpose: Dietary nitrate supplementation increases nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and reduces blood pressure (BP). Inter-individual differences in these responses are suspected but have not been investigated using robust designs, e.g., replicate crossover, and appropriate statistical models. We examined the within-individual consistency of the effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on NO biomarkers and BP, and quantified inter-individual response differences. Methods: Fifteen healthy males visited the laboratory four times. On two visits, participants consumed 140ml nitrate-rich beetroot juice (~14.0mmol nitrate) and, on the other two visits, they consumed 140ml nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (~0.03mmol nitrate). Plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations were measured 2.5 hours post-supplementation. BP was measured pre- and 2.5 hours post-supplementation. Between-replicate correlations were quantified for the placebo-adjusted post-supplementation plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations and pre-to-post changes in BP. Within-participant linear mixed models and a meta-analytic approach estimated participant-by-condition treatment response variability. Results: Nitrate-rich beetroot juice supplementation elevated plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations and reduced systolic (mean:-7mmHg, 95%CI: -3 to -11mmHg) and diastolic (mean:-6mmHg, 95%CI: -2 to -9mmHg) BP versus placebo. The participant-by-condition interaction response variability from the mixed model was ±7mmHg (95%CI: 3 to 9mmHg) for systolic BP and consistent with the treatment effect heterogeneity t=± 7mmHg (95%CI: 5 to 12mmHg) derived from the meta-analytic approach. The between-replicate correlations were moderate-to-large for plasma nitrate, nitrite and systolic BP (r=0.55 to 0.91). Conclusions: The effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on NO biomarkers and systolic BP varied significantly from participant to participant. The causes of this inter-individual variation deserve further investigation. Trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05514821.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Hayes E, Alhulaefi S, Siervo M, Whyte E, Kimble R, Matu J, Griffiths A, Sim M, Burleigh M, Easton C, Lolli L, Atkinson G, Mathers JC, Shannon OM

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: European Journal of Nutrition

Year: 2025

Volume: 64

Online publication date: 24/02/2025

Acceptance date: 09/02/2025

Date deposited: 10/02/2025

ISSN (print): 1436-6215

ISSN (electronic): 1436-6207

Publisher: Springer Medizin

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-025-03616-x

DOI: 10.1007/s00394-025-03616-x

ePrints DOI: 10.57711/btzf-g896

Data Access Statement: Data described in the manuscript, code book, and analytic code will be made available upon request pending author approval.


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Wellcome Trust

Share