1. The benefits and risks of beetroot juice consumption: a systematic review
- Author
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N. F. T. Henckens, H. Zamani, T. M. C. M. de Kok, M. E. J. R. de Joode, M. A. Guggeis, J. E. Berends, I. J. Hossein, and S.G.J. van Breda
- Subjects
risk-benefit ,Acceptable daily intake ,030309 nutrition & dietetics ,Sports Performances ,BLOOD-PRESSURE ,Beetroot Juice ,Risk Assessment ,Antioxidants ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,REPEATED-SPRINT PERFORMANCE ,Double blind ,DOUBLE-BLIND ,03 medical and health sciences ,0404 agricultural biotechnology ,nitrate ,Humans ,Medicine ,Food science ,Beetroot juice ,nitrite ,Beneficial effects ,Consumption (economics) ,0303 health sciences ,Nitrates ,N-nitroso compounds ,business.industry ,DIETARY NITRATE SUPPLEMENTATION ,O-2 UPTAKE KINETICS ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Medicine ,Vegetable Juices ,040401 food science ,Fruit and Vegetable Juices ,OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION ,CYCLING PERFORMANCE ,TIME-TRIAL PERFORMANCE ,Dietary Supplements ,Oxygen delivery ,Beta vulgaris ,endogenous nitrosation ,business ,IMPROVES EXERCISE TOLERANCE ,ACUTE MOUNTAIN-SICKNESS ,Food Science - Abstract
Beetroot juice (BRJ) has become increasingly popular amongst athletes aiming to improve sport performances. BRJ contains high concentrations of nitrate, which can be converted into nitric oxide (NO) after consumption. NO has various functions in the human body, including a vasodilatory effect, which reduces blood pressure and increases oxygen- and nutrient delivery to various organs. These effects indicate that BRJ may have relevant applications in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the consumption of BRJ also has an impact on oxygen delivery to skeletal muscles, muscle efficiency, tolerance and endurance and may thus have a positive impact on sports performances. Aside from the beneficial aspects of BRJ consumption, there may also be potential health risks. Drinking BRJ may easily increase nitrate intake above the acceptable daily intake, which is known to stimulate the endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds (NOC's), a class of compounds that is known to be carcinogenic and that may also induce several other adverse effects. Compared to studies on the beneficial effects, the amount of data and literature on the negative effects of BRJ is rather limited, and should be increased in order to perform a balanced risk assessment.
- Published
- 2020