Bioavailability of beetroot compounds in older adults

INTERVENTION:

Participants are randomised using a Latin‐Square method. Participants are allocated in a random order to receive the four interventions. The four interventions include: 1. 100g whole pre‐cooked beetroot 2. 200g whole pre‐cooked beetroot 3. 300g whole pre‐cooked beetroot 4. 200ml potassium nitrate solution. Participants are asked to consume the supplement within 15 minutes after baseline testing, and measurements will be taken for 5 hours post‐supplementation. The duration of each intervention will be five hours. The washout period between each phase will be one week.

CONDITION:

Age‐related degenerative diseases ; Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine ; Age‐related degenerative diseases

PRIMARY OUTCOME:

Differences in bioavailability of nitrate between incremental doses of beetroot and compared to a standard dose of potassium nitrate at five hours.

SECONDARY OUTCOME:

1. Differences in changes in blood pressure following each dose of nitrate supplementation and compared to a standard dose of potassium nitrate at five hours; 2. Differences in changes in endothelial function following each dose of nitrate supplementation and compared to a standard dose of potassium nitrate at five hours; 3. Differences in changes in exhaled nitric oxide following each dose of nitrate supplementation and compared to a standard dose of potassium nitrate at five hours; 4. Differences in bioavailability of betalains and phenolic compounds between incremental doses of beetroot and compared to a standard dose of potassium nitrate at five hours;

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Non‐obese 2. Non‐smoker 3. Males aged between 18 and 35 or 60 and 75 4. Free of chronic illness