Khaberni - A new study has shown that common vegetables can lower blood pressure in the elderly. According to The Independent, citing Free Radical Biology and Medicine, beetroot juice can lower blood pressure in individuals aged 60 and over by inhibiting potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth.
A team of scientists at the University of Exeter compared the responses of young adults and older adults to beetroot juice, which is rich in dietary nitrates. The body converts these nitrates into nitric oxide, which helps relax and dilate blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.
Gene sequencing and changes in the oral microbiome
The study included 39 adults under 30 years old, and 36 individuals in their sixties and seventies. For two weeks, each group was given doses of beetroot juice.
After a two-week break during which participants used a daily antiseptic mouthwash, the groups were given a nitrate-free placebo juice for another two weeks. Researchers used gene sequencing to analyze the bacteria present in the mouth after each phase of the experiment.
In both groups, the so-called oral microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms in the mouth, changed after drinking the nitrate-rich juice, though the effects varied. In older adults, there was a decrease in common bacteria that can sometimes cause infections and an increase in bacteria beneficial to health.
Blood pressure reduction
The researchers also discovered that the older group experienced a reduction in blood pressure after drinking the nitrate-rich juice for two weeks. Professor Andy Jones, from the University of Exeter, said: "This study shows that nitrate-rich foods alter the oral microbiome in a way that can reduce inflammation, in addition to lowering blood pressure in the elderly. This paves the way for larger-scale studies to explore the impact of lifestyle factors and biological sex on how people respond to dietary nitrate supplements."
Professor Annie Vanhatalo, from the University of Exeter, added: "We know that a diet rich in nitrates has health benefits, and that older people produce less nitric oxide as they age. They also tend to experience higher blood pressure, which may be linked to cardiovascular complications such as heart attacks and strokes."
Significant health benefits
Encouraging seniors to eat more nitrate-rich vegetables can have significant long-term health benefits.
The good news is that if a person does not like beetroot, there are many nitrate-rich alternatives such as spinach, arugula, fennel, celery, and cabbage.
Dr. Lee Peniston, the Assistant Director of Industrial Partnerships and Collaborative Research and Development at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), said: "This research is a great example of how biological sciences help better understand the complex links between diet, the microbiome, and healthy aging. By revealing how dietary nitrates affect oral bacteria and blood pressure in the elderly, the study opens up new prospects for improving vascular health through nutrition."
