Nitrate-rich beet juice intake on cardiovascular performance in response to exercise in postmenopausal women with arterial hypertension: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Cicero Jonas R Benjamim, Yaritza Brito Alves Sousa, Andrey Alves Porto, Yasmim Mota de Moraes Pontes, Simone Sakagute Tavares, Guilherme da Silva Rodrigues, Leonardo Santos Lopes da Silva, Leonardo da Silva Goncalves, Carolina Scoqui Guimaraes, Macário Arosti Rebelo, Andressa Crystine da Silva Sobrinho, Jose E Tanus-Santos, Vitor Engracia Valenti, Bruno Gualano, Carlos Roberto Bueno Júnior
Author Information
Cicero Jonas R Benjamim: Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. jonasbenjamim@usp.br. ORCID
Yaritza Brito Alves Sousa: Ribeirao Preto Nursing School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Andrey Alves Porto: Movement Sciences, Autonomic Nervous System Center (CESNA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
Yasmim Mota de Moraes Pontes: Ribeirao Preto School of Physical Education and Sports, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Simone Sakagute Tavares: Ribeirao Preto School of Physical Education and Sports, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Guilherme da Silva Rodrigues: Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Leonardo Santos Lopes da Silva: Ribeirao Preto School of Physical Education and Sports, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Leonardo da Silva Goncalves: Ribeirao Preto School of Physical Education and Sports, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Carolina Scoqui Guimaraes: Ribeirao Preto Nursing School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Macário Arosti Rebelo: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Andressa Crystine da Silva Sobrinho: Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Jose E Tanus-Santos: Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Vitor Engracia Valenti: Autonomic Nervous System Center (CESNA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Marília, SP, Brazil.
Bruno Gualano: Applied Physiology & Nutrition Research Group, University of São Paulo, Medical School (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Carlos Roberto Bueno Júnior: Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
BACKGROUND: There is no evidence of the use of beetroot juice with a previously recommended dose of nitrate (NO3) (> 300 mg) on the cardiovascular performance during and recovery following exercise in postmenopausal women with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH). METHODS: We will investigate the effects of beetroot juice rich in NO3 acutely (800 mg) and during a week with daily doses (400 mg) on blood pressure, heart rate (HR), cardiac autonomic control, endothelial function, inflammatory, hormonal, and stress biomarkers oxidative stress and enzymes involved in nitric oxide synthesis and mitochondrial regulation, under resting conditions, as well as mediated by submaximal aerobic exercise sessions. Through a randomized, crossover, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 25 physically inactive women with SAH will undergo an acute and 1-week trial, each with two intervention protocols: (1) placebo and (2) beetroot, in which will ingest beet juice with or without NO3 in its composition with a 7-day washout interval. On collection days, exercise will be performed on a treadmill for 40 min at a speed corresponding to 65-70% of VO2peak. The collection of variables (cardiovascular, autonomic, and blood samples for molecular analyses) of the study will take place at rest (135 min after ingestion of the intervention), during exercise (40 min), and in the effort recovery stage (during 60 min) based on previously validated protocols. The collections were arranged so that the measurement of one variable does not interfere with the other and that they have adequate intervals between them. DISCUSSION: The results of this research may help in the real understanding of the nutritional compounds capable of generating safety to the cardiovascular system during physical exercise, especially for women who are aging and who have cardiovascular limitations (e.g., arterial hypertension) to perform physical exercise. Therefore, our results will be able to help specific nutritional recommendations to optimize cardiovascular health. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05384340. Registered on May 20, 2022.
