Beetroot Juice Supplementation Did Not Change Exercise Capacity and Physical Function and Had Minimal Effects on Blood Pressure of Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Beetroot juice (BRJ) supplementation has been used as an ergogenic aid to improve exercise capacity and functionality in healthy and clinical populations. Positive effects such as improved blood pressure and blood flow have been demonstrated after the ingestion of BRJ in subjects with peripheral artery diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cancer treatment has detrimental lifelong effects on physical function and exercise capacity of survivors. Whether BRJ is an effective ergogenic aid in breast cancer survivors is unknown.MethodsTwelve female breast cancer survivors (>40 years old) were recruited. All subjects were provided BRJ and placebo (PL) during two testing sessions visits in a randomized, crossover, double blind study design. Exercise capacity was assessed using the 400‐m walk test, while functional capacity was assessed using: timed up and go, five repetitions seat rise to stand, maximal voluntary contraction handgrip strength, rhythmic handgrip test (40% of MVC until fatigue), 6‐m backward walk, and 6‐m forward walk. Peripheral systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were collected pre‐ and post‐ both testing sessions. At the same time measurements arterial stiffness was assessed using applanation tonometry in the radial artery for pulse wave analysis (PWA).ResultsBRJ supplementation showed no significant statistical significance in any of the measured variables.ConclusionThe results suggest that BRJ might not be an effective ergogenic aid for improving functional capacity in breast cancer survivors. Variables BRJ PL p Exercise Capacity 400‐m walk (s) 284.7 ± 47.68 279.09 ± 50.95 0.45 Functional Performance TUG (s) 6.05 (2.96) 6.05 (2.02) 0.07 Repeated chair stands (s) 9.12 ± 1.63 9.39 ± 1.57 0.5 MVC 17.7 (5.68) 16.07 (2.25) 0.81 Rhythmic Handgrip 199 (164) 191 (256) 0.26 6‐m backward walk (s) 14.22 ± 6.52 15.40 ± 5.82 0.35 6‐m fast walk (s) 3.07 (0.97) 3.53 (1.01) 0.94 TUG, timed up and go; MVC, maximal voluntary contraction. BRJ PL ANOVA/Friedman Pre Post Pre Post p values HR 74 ± 14 99 ± 26 74 ± 11 100 ± 22 0.89 SBP 125 ± 14 141 ± 20 121 ± 15 147 ± 20 0.08 DBP 78 (10) 80 (14) 78 (9) 80 (7) 0.49 PWA SBP 115 ± 13 129 ± 20 113 ± 14 134 ± 18 0.15 DBP 79 (10) 81 (17) 80 (10) 82 (8) 0.35 MP 93 ± 10 100 ± 14 95 ± 11 104 ± 10 0.35 PP 39 (13) 53 (17)* 35 (11) 47 (15)* 0.001 Aix 30 ± 12 33 ± 11 31 ± 11 39 ± 10 0.13 HR, heart rate; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; MP, mean pressure; PP, pulse pressure; Aix, augmentation index. p < 0.05 This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.