Dietary Beetroot Juice – Effects in Patients with COPD: A Review

Mingming Chen,1 Shuting Chang,1 Yunpeng Xu,1 Hong Guo,2 Jian Liu1,3 1The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Critical Care Medicine, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital (Gansu Provincial Center Hospital), Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jian Liu, Department of Clinical Medicine, The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, No. 1, Donggang West Road, Chengguan District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 136 0935 4197, Email medecinliujian@163.comAbstract: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exerts a severe toll on human health and the economy, with high prevalence and mortality rates. The search for bioactive components effective in the treatment of COPD has become a focal point of research. Beetroot juice, readily accessible and cost-effective, is noted for its ability to enhance athletic performance and for its preventive and therapeutic impact on hypertension. Beetroot juice is a rich source of dietary nitrates and modulates physiological processes via the nitrate-nitrite- nitric oxide pathway, exerting multiple beneficial effects such as antihypertensive, bronchodilatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and lipid-lowering actions. This paper provides a review of the existing research on the effects of beetroot juice on COPD, summarizing its potential in enhancing exercise capacity, lowering blood pressure, improving vascular function, and ameliorating sleep quality among patients with COPD. The review serves as a reference for the prospective use of beetroot juice in the symptomatic improvement of COPD, as well as in the prevention of exacerbations and associated comorbidities.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, beetroot, nitrates, nitric oxide, exercise, vascular function