Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older adults via oral microbiome changes

Researchers at the University of Exeter conducted a crossover trial in which participants drank nitrate‑rich beetroot juice twice daily for two weeks. The study involved 75 volunteers, including 36 adults aged 60‑70 and 39 younger adults under 30. In the older group, beetroot juice consumption reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, an effect linked to shifts in the oral microbiome: Prevotella bacteria decreased while Neisseria bacteria increased, enhancing nitrate conversion to nitric oxide, a vasodilator. Younger participants exhibited similar microbiome changes but did not experience blood‑pressure reductions, likely because their vascular function was already optimal.

The trial’s design, published in *Free Radical Biology and Medicine*, suggests that dietary nitrate from vegetables can improve cardiovascular health in older adults by supporting beneficial mouth bacteria that produce nitric oxide. The findings add to emerging evidence on the role of the oral microbiome in blood‑pressure regulation and may inform dietary recommendations for aging populations.