Effects of beetroot juice on blood pressure in hypertension according to European Society of Hypertension Guidelines: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 39069465 · doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2024.06.009
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis searching PubMed, SCOPUS, Medline Ovid, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science through April 13, 2024. They included randomized controlled trials evaluating nitrate-rich beetroot juice versus placebo, water, or no intake in adults with hypertension (clinical blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg). Risk of bias was assessed with a Cochrane-based instrument, pooled effect sizes were analyzed via random-effects models and meta-regression, and evidence certainty was evaluated using GRADE.
What was found
Across 11 included trials (349 participants), daily ingestion of 200–800 mg nitrate from beetroot juice significantly reduced clinical systolic blood pressure compared with placebo (mean difference -5.31 mmHg; 95% CI -7.46 to -3.16; I² = 64%; GRADE low). There were no statistically significant effects on clinical diastolic blood pressure or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure outcomes.
Why it matters
Nitrate-rich beetroot juice may offer an accessible dietary adjunct to pharmacological treatment for reducing clinical systolic blood pressure in hypertensive individuals without evident tolerance development.
Limits
The total sample size was small across all 11 trials (349 patients), statistical heterogeneity was moderate to high (I² = 64%), evidence certainty was graded low, and no significant improvement was demonstrated for clinical diastolic or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements.
Cited by
- supports Beetroot increases nitric oxide, acting as a vasodilator and lowering blood pressure.