Human clinical validation of dietary nitrate beetroot extract
Loughborough University conducts advanced human clinical research on the cardiovascular and performance benefits of dietary nitrate supplementation via beetroot extract. The program uses randomized, controlled clinical trials to evaluate how specific nitrate doses affect blood pressure, exercise tolerance, and endothelial health. This research provides evidence-based insights into the efficacy of nitrate-rich nutrition strategies for both athletic performance and cardiovascular health.
Overview
Loughborough University conducts rigorous human clinical research investigating the physiological and cardiovascular benefits of dietary nitrate supplementation, specifically using beetroot extract. This research program, led by the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, evaluates how inorganic nitrate—a compound found naturally in beetroot—impacts exercise performance, blood flow, endothelial function, and cardiovascular health under various physiological conditions.
Technical specifications
The research focuses on the impact of standardized, high-nitrate beetroot extracts on human subjects. Key capabilities and investigative areas include:
- Assessment of dose-response relationships for dietary nitrate on markers like aortic blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and macrovascular endothelial function.
- Investigation into the efficacy of nitrate supplementation to attenuate cardiovascular strain induced by stressors such as caffeine and cold exposure.
- Analysis of pharmacokinetic profiles of nitrate and nitrite in plasma, saliva, and urine across different age demographics.
- Utilization of randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial designs to ensure data robustness.
- Measurement of physiological outcomes including pulse wave analysis, heart rate variability, flow-mediated dilation, and metabolic markers during exercise and at rest.
Technology readiness level
The research is at a high level of maturity, classified as TRL 7-8. Loughborough University has conducted multiple randomized, controlled, and double-blind human clinical trials that demonstrate the physiological efficacy of dietary nitrate beetroot supplementation. The research has successfully progressed from basic laboratory validation to clinical study outcomes that inform dietary recommendations and provide clinical evidence for the efficacy of specific nutritional products in sports and cardiovascular health applications.
About Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a comprehensive public research university with a large campus in the East Midlands and a postgraduate campus in London. Industry engages on campus through the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP), part of the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone, which co‑locates companies with university facilities and provides incubation via LU Inc. The London campus at Here East within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park places researchers near technology and media firms, expanding access to partners and talent. Research is supported by competitive national funding from UK Research and Innovation, including the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and by Innovate UK programmes. A dedicated research and enterprise office manages IP, licensing, spinouts and partnering.
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