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Ms Abrar Babateen


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Be Part of Research - Trial Details - Effect of different doses of beetroot juice on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow
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Effect of different doses of beetroot juice on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow

Not Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Senior

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne

Medical Conditions

Age-related impairment of cognitive function and cerebral blood flow, cerebral hypo-perfusion

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


Nitric oxide (NO) is a small molecule produced in the body which is involved in the control of several functions such as blood pressure (BP), blood clotting, energy metabolism and inflammation. NO is also involved in enhancing cognitive function, which usually declines as we age and with increased body weight. This can happen by increasing blood flow to the brain. This study will ask participants to drink beetroot juice, which contains NO. We will then investigate whether ingestion of beetroot for three months would increase the concentrations of NO in the body and understand the effects on cognitive function and cerebral blood flow in overweight and obese participants.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

01 Jul 2018 30 Apr 2019

Publications

2020 Results article in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32405570 results (added 15/05/2020)2021 Results article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33653009/ (added 18/01/2023)2022 Results article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35268027/ (added 18/01/2023)

Participants will be randomly allocated to 4 groups:
1. One bottle of beetroot juice containing NO to be taken twice per day, in the morning and at night
2. One bottle of beetroot juice containing NO to be taken once per day at night
3. One bottle of beetroot juice containing NO to be taken once every other day at night
4. One bottle of placebo beetroot juice (NO depleted) to be taken once every other day at night
The study involve 6 visits, 4 visits will be at research facility in Newcastle University and 2 visits will be at Brain Performance and Nutrition Research Facility at Northumbria University.
Visit 1: This is screening visit which involve assessment of eligibility using BMI, blood pressure and participants will be trained on the cognitive tasks (around 2.5 hours, Newcastle University)
Visit 2: This is the first study visit, and participants will be asked to be fast for at least 8 hours before the visit. Baseline testing involves measurement of body composition, vascular and pulmonary function and series of cognitive tasks. Participants will be asked to provide blood, urine and saliva samples beside using salivary strip (a tool help measure nitrite in saliva). Several saliva samples will be asked to collect several saliva samples at home. A number of questionnaire will be asked to completed (around 2 hours, Newcastle University)
Visit 3: This is the day after Visit 2 and participants will continue baseline measurements. In this visit we will measure the cerebral blood flow. Only saliva and urine samples will be required in addition to use salivary strip (around 1 hour, Northumbria University).
Visit 4: This will be 6 weeks from the previous visit. Blood pressure and body composition will be measured. The cognitive tasks administered at baseline will be repeated.
Visit 5: This will be after 6 weeks from previous visit. The measurements described in the Visit 2 will be repeated in the same order.
Visit 6: This will be the day after Visit 5, and the measurements described in the baseline Visit 3 will be repeated in the same order.


Overweight and obese healthy men or women between the ages of 60-75 years

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


1. Current participation in other research clinical studies 2. Systolic blood pressure lower than 115 mmHg and greater than 160 mmHg3. Diastolic BP lower than 70 mmHg and greater than 100 mmHg 4. Active cancer and any diagnosis of malignant cancer in the last 5 years5. Excessive alcohol intake6. Allergy or intolerance to the intervention food7. Diagnosis of chronic and acute metabolic and inflammatory conditions interfering with the study outcome, including flu, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and epilepsy8. Major surgical operations interfering with the study outcomes9. Taking any of the following if the dose has been started/changed in the previous 3 months: 9.1. Hormonal therapies (oestrogens, thyroxin, and progesterone)9.2. Anti-hypertensive drugs (Ca++ channel blockers, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors)9.3. Statins 9.4. Any other anti-dyslipidaemic agent9.5. Psychiatric drugs (antidepressants, sedatives, antipsychotics)Non-prescribed vitamin or other dietary supplements will be stopped during the study.


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • NU-Food Research Center
    School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Building, King's Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
  • Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre
    Northumberland Building, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 8ST

This is a nutritional intervention and there may be some direct benefit for participants. We will measure a number of blood tests, the weight, BMI and BP of the participants which will be of interest to them. There is a minor risk of bruising, bleeding or infection (very rare) when we take blood samples.

Ms Abrar Babateen



The study is sponsored by Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau and funded by Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau in London.



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Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN14746723
Last updated 18 January 2023

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