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Beetroot juice ‘health boost for older folk’

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
23 Jul 2025
BY STORM NEWTON

**TONIC: Beetroot juice suppresses potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth.**

Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older people by suppressing potentially harmful bacteria in the mouth, a study suggests.

Experts at Exeter University compared the responses of younger adults and older adults to beetroot juice, which is rich in dietary nitrates.

These nitrates are converted by the body into nitric oxide, which helps to relax and widen blood vessels and lower blood pressure. The study included 39 adults under the age of 30, and 36 people in their 60s and 70s.

For two weeks, each group was given shots of beetroot juice.

After a two-week break, during which people were given antiseptic mouthwash every day, the groups were then given a placebo juice with the nitrate stripped out for a fortnight.

Researchers used gene sequencing to analyse the bacteria present in the mouth after each part of the trial.

In both groups, the so-called oral microbiome – the complex ecosystem of microorganisms in the mouth – changed after drinking the nitrate-rich juice, although the effects differed.

In older people, there was a decline in common bacteria that can sometimes cause infections, and an increase in bacteria that can benefit health.

Researchers also found the older group had decreased blood pressure after drinking the nitrate-rich juice for two weeks.

Professor Andy Jones said: “This study shows that nitrate-rich foods alter the oral microbiome in a way that could result in less inflammation, as well as a lowering of blood pressure in older people.

“This paves the way for larger studies to explore the influence of lifestyle factors and biological sex in how people respond to dietary nitrate supplementation.”

Professor Anni Vanhatalo added: “We know a nitrate-rich diet has health benefits, and older people produce less of their own nitric oxide as they age.

“They also tend to have higher blood pressure, which can be linked to heart attack and stroke.

“Encouraging older adults to consume more nitrate-rich vegetables could have significant long term health benefits.

“The good news is that if you don’t like beetroot, there are many nitrate-rich alternatives like spinach, rocket, fennel, celery and kale.”