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Feasibility and acceptability of a nutritional intervention testing the effects of nitrate-rich beetroot juice and folic acid on blood pressure in Tanzanian adults with elevated blood pressure

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Oliver Shannon, Professor Bloss Stephan, Dr Keith Gray, Dr Stella Paddick, Professor Richard Walker, Dr Mario Siervo

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This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Taylor and Francis Ltd, 2021.

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Abstract

© 2020, © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Sub-Saharan African countries are experiencing an alarming increase in hypertension prevalence. This study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of nitrate-rich beetroot and folate supplementation, alone or combined, for the reduction of blood pressure (BP) in Tanzanian adults with elevated BP. This was a three-arm double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel randomised clinical trial. Forty-eight participants were randomised to one of three groups to follow a specific 60-day intervention which included a: (1) combined intervention (beetroot juice + folate), (2) single intervention (beetroot juice + placebo), and (3) control group (nitrate-depleted beetroot juice + placebo). Forty-seven participants (age: 50–70 years) completed the study. The acceptability of the interventions was high. Self-reported compliance to the interventions was more than 90% which was confirmed by the significant increase in nitrate and folate concentrations in plasma and saliva samples in the treatment arms. This study provides important information for the design of high-nitrate interventions to reduce BP in Sub-Saharan African countries.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Kandhari N, Prabhakar M, Shannon O, Fostier W, Koehl C, Rogathi J, Temu G, Stephan BCM, Gray WK, Haule I, Paddick S-M, Mmbaga BT, Walker R, Siervo M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition

Year: 2021

Volume: 72

Issue: 2

Pages: 195-207

Online publication date: 10/06/2020

Acceptance date: 25/05/2020

Date deposited: 13/08/2020

ISSN (print): 0963-7486

ISSN (electronic): 1465-3478

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2020.1776226

DOI: 10.1080/09637486.2020.1776226

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