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Cited by 21Nitric Oxide and Endothelin EffectsCardiovascular Health and Disease PreventionCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Potential health effects of dietary nitrate supplementation in aging and chronic degenerative disease

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Carter, Stephen J., Gruber, Allison H., Raglin, John S., Baranauskas, Marissa N., Coggan, Andrew R.·2020·Medical Hypotheses
DOI 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109732PMC PMC7313402
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Abstract

In the United States, latest projections indicate the number of adults 65 years of age and older is expected to double by 2050. Given that increased oxidative stress is a hallmark of aging, it is understandable that waning nitric oxide and chronic degenerative disease arise in tandem. To this end, translational evidence-based strategies are needed to mitigate the impending toll on personal and public health. Dietary nitrate supplementation, particularly in the form of beetroot juice, is an active area of inquiry that has gained considerable attention in recent years. Compelling evidence has revealed beetroot juice can elicit potent physiological responses that may offer associated health benefits for multiple clinical disorders including hypertension, dementia, and sarcopenia. Even in the absence of overt disease, age-related impairments in cardiovascular and skeletal muscle function may uniquely benefit from beetroot juice supplementation as evidence has shown blood pressure lowering effects and improved muscle function/contractility - presumably from increased nitric oxide bioavailability. This, in turn, presents a practical opportunity for susceptible populations to support ease of movement and exercise tolerance, both of which may promote free-living physical activity. A theoretical rationale details the potential health effects of dietary nitrate supplementation, wherein a working framework hypothesizes beetroot juice consumption prior to structured exercise training may offer synergistic benefits to aid healthy aging and independent-living among older adults.

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  • Improvements in endothelial function and arterial stiffness suggest a role for dietary nitrate in both primary and secondary prevention in ageing populations.

    “Improvements in endothelial function and arterial stiffness–key predictors of cardiovascular risk–suggest a role in both primary and secondary prevention [145,159,160,161].”

    From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [161]

    The Age-related vascular changes section links ageing to impaired endothelial-dependent dilation and arterial stiffening. The Hypertension section proposes dietary nitrate as a way to support vascular health in people with occult or overt cardiovascular disease and reports blood-pressure reductions in one trial. It does not report that nitrate improved endothelial function or arterial stiffness, or establish a role in both primary and secondary prevention. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In ageing populations, the benefits of dietary nitrate extend beyond reducing blood pressure.

    “In ageing populations, the benefits of dietary nitrate extend beyond reducing blood pressure.”

    From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [161]

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Authors
Carter, S. J., Gruber, A. H., Raglin, J. S., Baranauskas, M. N., & Coggan, A. R.
Affiliations
  • Indiana University Bloomington (US)
  • Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (US)
Corresponding author
Carter, Stephen J.
ORCID
Venue
Medical Hypotheses
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-08
Volume
141
Pages
109732
ISSN
0306-9877 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109732
PMC
PMC7313402
OpenAlex
W3015783133
Cited by
21
References
11
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1
FWCI
1.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Medical Hypotheses (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • IUScholarWorks (Indiana University) (submittedVersion)
  • Purdue University Indianapolis (Indiana University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Disease Prevention
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
nitrate supplementation, beetroot juice, nitric oxide bioavailability, aging, chronic degenerative diseases, oxidative stress, hypertension, dementia, sarcopenia, skeletal muscle function, cardiovascular function, exercise training, older adults, independent living
MeSH terms
Aged, Aging, Blood Pressure, Humans, Nitrates, Dietary Supplements, Beta vulgaris

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