Beet Root Juice Improved Exercise Endurance in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Daniel Kim-Shapiro, PhD Professor and Associate Chair of Physics Harbert Family Distinguished Chair Director, Translational Science Center Wake Forest University

Dr. Daniel Kim-Shapiro

Daniel Kim-Shapiro, PhD
Professor and Associate Chair of Physics
Harbert Family Distinguished Chair
Director, Translational Science Center
Wake Forest University

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Dr. Kim-Shapiro: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HDPEF) is the most common form of heart failure.  It is characterized by poor perfusion to active muscles which results in poor exercise capacity and a poor quality of life.  Currently, the only effective treatment for this condition is aerobic exercise.

Several studies have shown that dietary nitrate, usually in the form of beet root juice, increases nitric oxide bioavaiability in a way that targets areas of low oxygen so that perfusion increases where it is needed.  This action relies on conversion of nitrate to nitrite by oral bacteria with subsequent conversion of nitrite to nitric oxide.  Nitrite from the blood is taken up by salivary glands so that dosing with dietary nitrate can be long-lasting.

The main finding of this study was that daily intake of high nitrate containing beet root juice improved exercise endurance in patients with HFPEF.

Beetroot juice Wikipedia

Beet Juice
Wikipedia

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Kim-Shapiro: Preliminary studies demonstrate potential for dietary nitrate to improve quality of life in patients with Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Kim-Shapiro: This is a small study and needs to be expanded to a much larger one exploring dosage and combined effects of nitrate and exercise.

Medical Research: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Dr. Kim-Shapiro: Dietary nitrate involves the anion nitrate, not to be confused wit organic nitrates.

Dr. Kim-Shapiro is listed as a co-inventor on a patent related to use of nitrite in cardiovascular conditions, and owns stock in and serves on the scientific advisory board for Beverage Operations LLC which has licensed Wake Forest University intellectual properties and thus has a financial interest in Beverage Operations LLC

 

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Citation:

Joel Eggebeen, Daniel B. Kim-Shapiro, Mark Haykowsky, Timothy M. Morgan, Swati Basu, Peter Brubaker, Jack Rejeski, Dalane W. Kitzman. One Week of Daily Dosing With Beetroot Juice Improves Submaximal Endurance and Blood Pressure in Older Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction. JACC: Heart Failure, 2016; DOI: 1016/j.jchf.2015.12.013

 

 

Daniel Kim-Shapiro, PhD (2016). Beet Root Juice Improved Exercise Endurance in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fractio MedicalResearch.com

Last Updated on February 13, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD