Effect of Beetroot Juice on Blood Pressure Regulation in Post Menopausal Women
Condition: Postmenopausal Women
Intervention: Beetroot juice; Beetroot juice placebo
Intervention description: This beverage contains 0.3 g of inorganic nitrate per 70 ml container, and is bottled and supplied by James White Drinks (UK).; This beverage is identical in look and taste to the Beet-It organic shot, but has the nitrate removed. It is also bottled and supplied by James White Drinks (UK).
Phase: Phase 2
Study type: Interventional
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Masking description: Treatment order will be randomly assigned to participants by Clinical Research Center (CRC) staff using computer-based mathematical software. The generated list that determines each participants treatment order will be kept in a secure location in the CRC which cannot be accessed directly by research team members.
Enrollment: 16.0
Sex: Female
Minimum age: 55 Years
Maximum age: 80 Years
Healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Keywords: Dietary nitrate supplementation; Beetroot juice

Summary:

      In this study the investigators will test the hypothesis that acute consumption of inorganic
      nitrate (supplied in concentrated beetroot juice) reduces artery stiffness and resting blood
      pressure, and lessens the rise in blood pressure during handgrip exercise in postmenopausal
      women. Understanding and improving artery function and blood pressure regulation in women is
      important because they undergo accelerated arterial stiffening after menopause and have much
      larger increases in blood pressure when they exercise compared with either premenopausal
      women or men of similar age.
    

Eligibility criteria:

        Inclusion Criteria:

          -  Resting systolic blood pressure less than or equal to 160 mmHg

          -  Resting diastolic blood pressure less than or equal to 100 mmHg

        Exclusion Criteria:

          -  Overt cardiovascular, metabolic, hematologic, pulmonary, renal, musculoskeletal,
             and/or neurological disease(s)

          -  Users of any tobacco and/or nicotine products (smokers, chewing tobacco,
             nicotine-containing patches/gum, smokeless cigarettes)

          -  Body mass index greater than 35

          -  Total cholesterol greater than 239 mg/dl

          -  LDL cholesterol greater than 159 mg/dl

          -  Fasting blood triglycerides greater than 199 mg/dl

          -  Fasting blood glucose greater than 109 mg/dl and HbA1c greater than 6.0%

          -  Individuals currently taking any of the following medications:

               1. blood pressure lowering medication (e.g., beta blockers, ACE inhibitors,
                  angiotensin antagonists, calcium channel blockers, diuretics)

               2. lipid-lowering medication (e.g., statins)

               3. nitrates (e.g. nitroglycerin) for angina

               4. phosphodiesterase inhibitors (e.g., Viagra)

               5. anti-inflammatory drugs

          -  Individuals currently taking hormone replacement therapy