Beetroot nitrate doses and heart and blood vessel function
What it found
In healthy adults, a single dose of nitrate-rich beetroot powder improved some heart and blood vessel measures, but not all, and the best dose differed by measure.
The study was a randomised controlled trial in people.
What they found
Studies in people
Nitrate levels in blood
Nitrate supplementation raised levels of nitrate and nitrite in the blood, but did not change levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP).
Arterial stiffness
Markers of arterial stiffness improved after all three nitrate doses, with no differences between the doses.
Endothelial function
Endothelial function improved only after the 400 mg dose, by 3.07% compared to control.
Aortic systolic blood pressure
Aortic systolic blood pressure improved only after the 800 mg dose, by 4 mmHg compared to control.
Brachial blood pressure
Brachial blood pressure did not change with any dose.
What the authors conclude
“Acute NO 3 - ingestion improved some cardiovascular risk factors, including arterial stiffness, macrovascular endothelial function and aortic systolic BP with different dose-response effects, but had no effect on brachial BP or plasma [cGMP].”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that acute nitrate ingestion improved some cardiovascular risk factors, including arterial stiffness, macrovascular endothelial function and aortic systolic BP, with different dose-response effects, but had no effect on brachial BP or plasma cGMP.
- They state that these findings improve understanding of nitrate supplementation and cardiovascular function in healthy adults.
How it was done
Dietary nitrate supplements have been reported to improve heart health, but beyond blood pressure in the arm, the dose-response effects on other heart and blood vessel measures are unclear.
Healthy adults took three single doses of nitrate-rich beetroot powder (200 mg, 400 mg, 800 mg) or a control in a double-blind, randomised, crossover study. Heart and blood vessel measures and blood samples were taken before and 2.5 hours after taking the supplement.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a single dose study in healthy adults, so it cannot show what happens with long-term use or in people with health conditions.
- The study measured effects up to 2.5 hours after taking the supplement, so it cannot show longer-term effects.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Loughborough University, UK; University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division, UK; Loughborough College, UK
The paper
- Title
- The dose-response effects of nitrate-rich beetroot ingestion on cardiovascular and endothelial function: a randomised controlled trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- McLellan AG, Acton JP, O'Donnell E, et al (2026). The dose-response effects of nitrate-rich beetroot ingestion on cardiovascular and endothelial function: a randomised controlled trial. Food & function. doi:10.1039/d5fo05298jPubMed 41704173DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error