Dietary nitrate improves skeletal muscle microvascular oxygenation in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy: a randomised, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled study. Issue 12 (28th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barros-Santos, Elisa; de Oliveira, Gustavo Vieira; Volino-Souza, Mônica; Alvares, Thiago Silveira
• Is Part Of: British journal of nutrition. Volume 124:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 1277
• Page End: 1284
• Publication Date: 2020-12-28
• Subjects: Beetroot, -- Muscle oxygenation, -- Microcirculation, -- HIV; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 572.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114520002226
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1145

Abstract

Abstract: HIV-1 proteins and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have been associated with microvascular endothelial dysfunction. Although nitrate-rich beetroot juice (NR-BJ) consumption has been shown to improve endothelial function in clinical population, its effects in HIV-infected patients has not been addressed. We investigated the effect of a single dose of NR-BJ on muscle oxygen saturation parameters in response to a handgrip exercise in HIV-infected patients. Fifteen HIV-infected patients received NR-BJ or nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (ND-BJ) in a double-blind cross-over design. Near-IR spectroscopy was utilised to assess muscle oxygen saturation parameters during rhythmic handgrip exercise after NR-BJ or ND-BJ supplementation. A significant faster muscle oxygen desaturation rate during exercise (–7·97 (sd 5·00) v . –5·45 (3·94) %/s, P = 0·005) and muscle oxygen resaturation rate during exercise recovery (0·43 (0·24) v . 0·28 (0·24) %/s, P = 0·030) after NR-BJ ingestion was found. However, no significant difference in exercise time until fatigue was observed. Salivary nitrite and urinary nitrate concentration were analysed after NR-BJ or ND-BJ. A significant increase in salivary nitrite and urinary nitrate in NR-BJ was observed compared with ND-BJ ( P < 0·05). Our findings suggest that NR-BJ consumption may acutely improve muscle oxygen saturation during exercise and exercise recovery in HIV-infected patients undergoing HAART and who are expected to present microvascular damage. Thus, future studies investigating the chronic effects of NR-BJ are warranted to delineate a better nutritional strategy based on nitrate-rich foods.