Effect of beetroot pomace consumption on acute blood pressure and postprandial blood glucose responses on healthy adults : a thesis presented in the partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Abstract

Background: Nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BRJ) supplementation has been shown to improve blood pressure (BP) levels in younger and older adults via increased nitric oxide (NO) production leading to dilation of blood vessels. Similarly, to some extent a reduction of blood glucose (BG) levels through several different mechanisms. However, limited research exists on the by-product of beetroot juice production, beetroot pomace (BRPOM), and its role in controlling BP and BG levels. Objective: To investigate and compare the changes in BP and BG levels in a 3 h period following the ingestion of BRPOM, BRJ and placebo as part of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Methods: Following an overnight fast, twelve healthy adults consumed either BRPOM (600 mg nitrate, 10 g fibre, 75 g carbohydrate), BRJ (600 mg nitrate, <1 g fibre, 75 g carbohydrate), or placebo (0 mg nitrate, <1 g fibre, 75 g carbohydrate) 15 minutes prior to the OGTT, separated by 1-week washout periods, in a single-blind, crossover design, pilot study. Blood pressure and BG levels were measured at baseline, then every 15 minutes for BG and every hour for BP during a 3 h OGTT. Results: No significant changes in SBP for BRJ (-2.3 ± 5.56 mmHg, p = 0.174), BRPOM (-3 ± 13.4 mmHg, p = 0.456), or PLA (5.2 ± 11.3 mmHg, p = 0.142) treatment group after 3 h. However, there was a trend towards significance in the differences between the three groups (p = 0.075, η²ₚ = 0.404). Clinically meaningful reductions in SBP were observed for BRJ (-2.3 ± 5.56 mmHg) and BRPOM (-3 ± 13.4 mmHg). There were no differences (p = 0.739, η²ₚ = 0.059) in mean glucose incremental area under the curve (iAUC) between BRJ, BRPOM and PLA (232.8 ± 61.9, 242 ± 54.7 and 252.4 ± 60.6 mmol/L/min, respectively). There were no differences between BRJ, BRPOM and PLA in time to peak (p = 0.269, η²ₚ = 0.313), peak glucose levels (p = 0.241, η²ₚ = 0.247), 2 h glucose levels (p = 0.565, η²ₚ = 0.150), 3 h glucose levels (p = 0.395, η²ₚ = 0.233) and percentage increment of postprandial BG (p = 0.783, η²ₚ = 0.048). Conclusion: This pilot study with a small sample size showed a large effect size and clinically meaningful attenuations for acute SBP changes following the consumption of beetroot pomace. Further investigations would be needed to explore the applicability of these findings to hypertensive individuals. However, its impact on acute BG levels remains non-significant, possibly influenced by the small sample size and participants’ baseline normoglycaemic levels. Further research is needed to explore potential effects in a hyperglycaemic population.