Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Inflammation and Antioxidant Levels in Obese Subjects

Abstract

Beetroot is a vegetable high in organic nitrate. Dietary nitrate derived from beetroot is absorbed from the gut, taken up into the salivary glands and concentrated in the saliva. Nitrate is converted enzymatically with nitrite as an intermediary, especially under hypoxic and/or acidotic conditions to nitric oxide. Obese individuals are known to exhibit increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers and reduced antioxidants. In this placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blinded study, we determined whether beetroot juice consumption is associated with improvement in inflammation and oxidative stress.