Effects of Beetroot Powder with or without L-Arginine on Postprandial Vascular Endothelial Function: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial with Abdominally Obese Men |
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Authors: | Ellen T. H. C. Smeets Ronald P. Mensink Joris Hoeks Johan de Vogel-Van den Bosch Robert J. J. Hageman Peter J. Joris |
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Affiliation: | 1.Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, P.O. Box 616, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands; (E.T.H.C.S.); (R.P.M.); (J.H.);2.Danone Nutricia Research, 3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands; (J.d.V.-V.d.B.); (R.J.J.H.) |
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Abstract: | Background: Through effects on nitric oxide bioavailability, vascular endothelial function is improved after the intake of a high amount of nitrate or L-arginine, but decreased after the intake of a high-fat meal. Therefore, we compared the effects of beetroot powder with or without L-arginine on postprandial brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) after consumption of a high-fat mixed-meal. Methods: Eighteen abdominally obese men completed this randomized, double-blinded, cross-over trial. The study consisted of five test days, each separated by a wash-out period of at least one week. Participants received in random order, a blended meal with a control or nutritional supplement consisting of beetroot powder providing 200 mg nitrate, beetroot with 0.8 g of L-arginine, beetroot with 1.5 g of L-arginine, or 3.0 g of L-arginine. Participants then fasted and 2 h postprandial FMD measurements were performed. Results: No significant differences between meals were observed for postprandial FMD (p = 0.45) levels. However, there was a non-significant trend towards a more beneficial postprandial FMD response with the beetroot-containing meals as compared with meals without beetroot. Conclusion: This trial could not provide evidence for beneficial additive effects of a single dose of beetroot powder combined with L-arginine on postprandial endothelial function in abdominally obese men. |
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Keywords: | beetroot L-arginine dietary nitrate nitric oxide flow-mediated vasodilation endothelial function |
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