The effects of dietary nitrate ingestion on physical performance tests in 50-65 years old postmenopausal women: A pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The post-menopausal period represents a noteworthy stage in a woman's life characterized by hormonal shifts that can influence diverse biological processes encompassing energy metabolism and physical performance. NO3- effects on physical performance in 50-65 years old postmenopausal women after short-term supplementation remain unknown. METHODS: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. After two sessions in non-consecutive days of familiarization tests, fifteen post-menopausal women aged between 50 and 65 were enrolled in this study. The trial consisted of two eight-day arms: a) NO3- -70 mL of beetroot juice (BRJ) with ˜400 mg of NO3-, and b) placebo (PLA) -70 mL of BRJ NO3- depleted. Both interventions were obtained from the same manufacturer's product, presenting the same organoleptic properties. After this period, five physical performance tests (handgrip strength, arm curl, sit-to-stand, agility and dynamic balance and 6-min walk test (6MWT)) were applied. RESULTS: Fourteen participants completed all experimental protocols, including a minimum seven-day washout period between protocols. NO2- plasma concentrations were consistently elevated in the NO3- condition at 0.41 (0.40) µM compared to the PLA at 0.18 (0.18) µM (p < 0.001). The 6MWT showed higher values in BRJ with NO3- condition (19.6 m [95%CI: 1.33 to 37.88]; p = 0.038), while the other physical performance tests did not show significant difference between conditions (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest benefits in the physical performance of activities with longer durations, indicating that the adaptation caused by ingestion of NO3- may be related to the cardiorespiratory capacity.

Does Multicomponent Training Improve Cognitive Function in Older Adults Without Cognitive Impairment? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVES: To carry out a systematic review and meta-analysis to verify the effects of multicomponent training on the cognitive function of older adults without cognitive impairment. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 60 years and older. METHODS: The searches were accomplished through MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SCOPUS, LILACS, and Google Scholar databases. We performed the searches up to November 18, 2022. The study included only randomized controlled trials and older adults without any cognitive impairment (dementia, Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment, neurologic diseases). Risk of Bias 2 tool and PEDro scale was performed. RESULTS: Ten randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review, of which 6 (involving 166 participants) were compiled in the meta-analysis of random effects models. The Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were used to assess global cognitive function. The Trail-Making Test (TMT) (A and B domains) was performed by 4 studies. Compared with the control group, multicomponent training increases the global cognitive function (standardized mean difference = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.34-0.81, I2 = 11%; P < .001). Regarding TMT-A and TMT-B, multicomponent training decreases the time performed in the tests (TMT-A: mean difference = -6.70, 95% CI: -10.19 to -3.21; I2 = 51%; P = .0002) (TMT-B: mean difference = -8.80, 95% CI: -17.59 to -0.01; I2 = 69%; P = .05). The PEDro scale for the studies in our review ranged from 7 to 8 (mean = 7.4 ± 0.5), meaning good methodologic quality, and most studies were judged as at least low in terms of risk of bias. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Multicomponent training improves cognitive function in older adults without cognitive impairment. Therefore, a possible protective effect of multicomponent training for cognitive function in older adults is suggested.

Nitrate-rich beet juice intake on cardiovascular performance in response to exercise in postmenopausal women with arterial hypertension: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There is no evidence of the use of beetroot juice with a previously recommended dose of nitrate (NO3) (> 300 mg) on the cardiovascular performance during and recovery following exercise in postmenopausal women with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH). METHODS: We will investigate the effects of beetroot juice rich in NO3 acutely (800 mg) and during a week with daily doses (400 mg) on blood pressure, heart rate (HR), cardiac autonomic control, endothelial function, inflammatory, hormonal, and stress biomarkers oxidative stress and enzymes involved in nitric oxide synthesis and mitochondrial regulation, under resting conditions, as well as mediated by submaximal aerobic exercise sessions. Through a randomized, crossover, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 25 physically inactive women with SAH will undergo an acute and 1-week trial, each with two intervention protocols: (1) placebo and (2) beetroot, in which will ingest beet juice with or without NO3 in its composition with a 7-day washout interval. On collection days, exercise will be performed on a treadmill for 40 min at a speed corresponding to 65-70% of VO2peak. The collection of variables (cardiovascular, autonomic, and blood samples for molecular analyses) of the study will take place at rest (135 min after ingestion of the intervention), during exercise (40 min), and in the effort recovery stage (during 60 min) based on previously validated protocols. The collections were arranged so that the measurement of one variable does not interfere with the other and that they have adequate intervals between them. DISCUSSION: The results of this research may help in the real understanding of the nutritional compounds capable of generating safety to the cardiovascular system during physical exercise, especially for women who are aging and who have cardiovascular limitations (e.g., arterial hypertension) to perform physical exercise. Therefore, our results will be able to help specific nutritional recommendations to optimize cardiovascular health. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05384340. Registered on May 20, 2022.