Beetroot juice boosts brain and heart health in seniors, proposes oral microbiome study

01 Apr 2021 --- Drinking beetroot juice could improve vascular health and brain function in elderly people, according to a recent University of Exeter study into the oral microbiome.

The findings, now published in Redox Biology, reveal that consumers aged 70-80 can significantly improve their oral bacteria by drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice. 

Many oral bacteria play important roles in converting nitrite into nitrate oxide, which helps to regulate blood vessels and neurotransmission. 

“Previous studies have compared the oral bacteria of young and older people, and healthy people compared to those with diseases, but ours is the first to test a nitrate-rich diet in this way,” says lead study author Anni Vanhatalo.

Aging is hallmarked by reduced nitric oxide production with associated detriments to cardiovascular and cognitive function, notes the study. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently promoting the “Decade of Healthy Ageing” from 2021 to 2030, highlighting that at least 14 percent of all people aged 60 years and over – more than 142 million people – cannot currently meet their basic daily needs. 

Nutrition is a key element of the campaign. 

Beetroot products could be important for aging consumers.Beetroot for the brain 
The study involved 26 healthy older participants in two ten-day supplementation periods: one with nitrate-rich beetroot juice and another with nitrate-free placebo juice, which they drank twice a day.

The results showed higher levels of bacteria associated with good vascular and cognitive health and lower levels of bacteria linked to disease and inflammation.

Systolic blood pressure dropped on average by five points (mmHg) after drinking the beetroot juice.

“Our findings suggest that adding nitrate-rich foods to the diet – in this case via beetroot juice – for just ten days can substantially alter the oral microbiome for the better,” explains Vanhatalo. 

“Maintaining this healthy oral microbiome in the long term might slow down the negative vascular and cognitive changes associated with aging.”

Biological mechanisms 
Microbiome-diet interactions are emerging as a therapeutic target for the maintenance of cardiovascular and cognitive health in older age, notes the study. 

To discern the underlying mechanisms explaining these results, the researchers ran tests to identify clusters, or modules, of oral bacteria that tend to thrive together in similar conditions.

One bacteria module named Prevotella-Veillonella, associated with inflammation, was reduced after nitrate supplementation, including a decrease of Clostridium difficile, which can infect the bowel and cause diarrhea.

Vanhatalo is stressing that more research is needed to confirm the findings and see whether similar effects are found in other groups.

“Our participants were healthy, active older people with generally good blood pressure. Dietary nitrate reduced their blood pressure on average, and we are keen to find out whether the same would happen in other age groups and among people in poorer health.”

“We are working with colleagues in the University of Exeter Medical School to investigate interactions between the oral bacteria and cognition to understand better how diet could be used to delay cognitive decline in older age.”

NutritionInsight recently discussed oral and dental health trends with experts as part of the annual World Oral Health Day.  

Edited

By Louis Gore-Langton