blood pressure

The nitrate content of beetroot juice can help lower blood pressure, new research suggests.

A study, publshed online in the journal Hypertension, found that blood pressure was lowered within 24 hours in people who drank beetroot juice or took nitrate tablets.

For people with high blood pressure who are at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke, beetroot juice may be a new 'natural' approach to reducing their chances of the life threatening conditions.

A past study carried out two years ago by the researchers from Queen Mary University of London found that drinking beetroot juice lowered blood pressure. But now they say they understand how it works.

Amrita Ahluwalia, professor of vascular biology at the William Harvey Research Institute, says it's all down to the nitrate content: "We gave inorganic nitrate capsules or beetroot juice to healthy volunteers and compared their blood pressure responses and the biochemical changes occurring in the circulation.

"We showed that beetroot and nitrate capsules are equally effective in lowering blood pressure indicating that it is the nitrate content of beetroot juice that underlies its potential to reduce blood pressure.

"We also found that only a small amount of juice is needed – just 250ml - to have this effect, and that the higher the blood pressure at the start of the study the greater the decrease caused by the nitrate.

The nitrate found in beetroot juice is thought to work by boosting the levels of the gas nitric oxide in the bloodstream.

Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation said: “This small study builds on previous research that highlighted an association between beetroot juice and lowering of blood pressure.

“Although beetroot was used in this study it seems that the important thing here is the nitrates. More research is now needed to confirm these findings and to identify if the same effect is seen with other vegetables.

“However, the study seems to add more weight to the fact that we need to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.”