Beetroot juice and inflammation in adults with long COVID
What it found
In 25 adults with long COVID, drinking beetroot juice for 14 days lowered three inflammatory markers in the blood.
It did not change markers of mitochondrial quality.
What they found
Studies in people
Inflammation fell
After 14 days, blood levels of IL-1beta, IL-8 and TNF-alpha were significantly lower in the beetroot juice group. No other significant before-and-after differences were seen in either group.
Mitochondrial markers unchanged
There were no significant changes in any of the vesicle or mitochondrial markers in either group.
No difference between groups
When the two groups were compared after adjusting for starting values, there were no significant differences between placebo and beetroot juice for any marker measured.
Walking and vessel function
After 14 days, the distance walked in 6 minutes was 585.0 m in both groups. Flow-mediated dilation was 13.0% with placebo and 13.2% with beetroot juice.
Mitochondrial markers and fitness
Across all participants, higher levels of certain vesicle mitochondrial markers were linked to worse performance on the 6 minute walk test and to lower flow-mediated dilation.
What the authors conclude
“The administration of beetroot juice for 14 days was associated with a quenching of the inflammatory response in adults with long COVID.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that beetroot juice for 14 days was associated with a quenching of the inflammatory response in adults with long COVID.
- They suggest that an improvement in mitochondrial quality, possibly through recycling by mitochondria-derived vesicles, may be among the mechanisms supporting better physical performance and blood vessel function during recovery from long COVID.
- They advise that future studies controlling for other possible factors are needed.
How it was done
The authors wanted to explore the links between markers of mitochondrial quality and inflammation in adults with long COVID, and whether beetroot juice affects those markers.
They did secondary analyses of a placebo-controlled randomised trial. 25 adults with long COVID took part: 10 had placebo and 15 had 200 mL of beetroot juice daily for 14 days. Blood markers, a 6 minute walk test and a measure of blood vessel function were compared.
What it can’t tell you
- The study was small, with only 25 people, and was a pilot, so it could not analyse results by sex.
- The intervention lasted two weeks, shorter than the recommended four to six weeks, so the full effects may not have been seen.
- The analysis could not account for nitrate intake, lifestyle habits or physical activity levels.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore; Ministero dell'università e della ricerca; Centro Studi Achille e Linda Lorenzon; Ministero della Salute; Italian Association for Cancer Research; European Commission (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- A.T. and W.A. are employees of Aureli Mario S.S. Agricola, which donated both beetroot juice and placebo for this study. The supplier had no role in the design of this study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.
- Authors work at
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS, Italy; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy; University of Salento, Italy
The paper
- Title
- Mitochondria-Derived Vesicles and Inflammatory Profiles of Adults with Long COVID Supplemented with Red Beetroot Juice: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Marzetti E, Coelho-Júnior HJ, Calvani R, et al (2025). Mitochondria-Derived Vesicles and Inflammatory Profiles of Adults with Long COVID Supplemented with Red Beetroot Juice: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial. International journal of molecular sciences. doi:10.3390/ijms26031224Free full textPubMed 39940991DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error