Acute Effects of Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Juice on Blood Pressure, Hemostasis and Vascular Inflammation Markers in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study

: Dietary nitrate (NO3−) has been reported to improve endothelial function (EF) and blood pressure (BP). However, most studies only assess large-vessel EF with little research on the microvasculature. Thus, the aim of the present pilot study is to examine NO3− supplementation on microvascular and large-vessel EF and BP. Twenty older adults (63 ± 6 years) were randomized to a beetroot juice (BRJ) or placebo (PLA) group for 28 (±7) days and attended three laboratory visitations. Across visitations, blood pressure, microvascular function and large-vessel EF were assessed by laser Doppler imaging (LDI) with iontophoresis of vasoactive substances and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), respectively. Plasma NO3−concentrations, BP and the presence of NO3− reducing bacteria were also assessed. Plasma NO3− increased following two weeks of BRJ supplementation (p = 0.04) along with a concomitant decrease in systolic and diastolic BP of approximately −6 mmHg and −4 mmHg, respectively (p = 0.04; p = 0.01, respectively). BP remained unchanged in the PLA group. There were no significant differences in endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent microvascular responses between groups. FMD increased by 1.5% following two weeks of BRJ (p = 0.04), with only a minimal (0.1%) change for the PLA group. In conclusion, this pilot study demonstrated that medium-term BRJ ingestion potentially improves SBP, DBP and large-vessel EF in healthy older adults. The improvements observed in the present study are likely to be greater in populations presenting with endothelial dysfunction. Thus, further prospective studies are warranted in individuals at greater risk for cardiovascular disease.

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P63 Substantia nigra integrity as a predictor of galantamine response on working memory performance in healthy older adults – A randomized controlled double-blinded crossover study

Clinical Neurophysiology ◽

10.1016/j.clinph.2019.12.066 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 131 (4) ◽

pp. e209

Author(s):

P. Müller ◽

A.K. Vellage ◽

M. Schmicker ◽

I. Menze ◽

N. Müller

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Substantia Nigra ◽

Crossover Study ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Double Blinded

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The Acute Effects of Different Exercise Intensities on Associative Novel Word Learning in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2020-0093 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Marie-Pier McSween ◽

Katie L. McMahon ◽

Kylie Maguire ◽

Jeff S. Coombes ◽

Amy D. Rodriguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Word Learning ◽

Acute Exercise ◽

Word Recall ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Acute Effects ◽

Learning Abilities ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Continuous Exercise ◽

Lower Baseline

Recent studies show positive effects of acute exercise on language learning in young adults with lower baseline learning abilities; however, this is yet to be investigated in older adults. This study investigated the acute effects of different exercise intensities on new word learning in healthy older adults with lower and higher baseline learning abilities. Sixty older adults (mean age = 66.4 (4.6); 43 females) performed either a single bout of stretching exercise, moderate-intensity continuous exercise, or high-intensity interval exercise followed by a word learning task. In lower baseline learners, between-group differences were observed on immediate new word recall success, with the moderate-intensity continuous exercise group performing better than the stretching group. These findings suggest immediate benefits of moderate-intensity continuous exercise that are limited to word learning performance of older adults with lower baseline learning abilities. Further investigation into underlying mechanisms could lead to a better understanding of individual differences in responding to acute exercise.

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Co-ingestion of antioxidant drinks with an unhealthy challenge meal fails to prevent post-prandial endothelial dysfunction: an open-label, crossover study in healthy older adults

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s0029665119000314 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 78 (OCE1) ◽

Author(s):

K. Goszcz ◽

D. J. Muggeridge ◽

A. Treweeke ◽

J. Adamson ◽

K. Hickson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Endothelial Dysfunction ◽

Crossover Study ◽

Open Label ◽

Healthy Older Adults

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Abstract 13: Mineralocorticoid Receptor Blockade does not Result in Arterial Destiffening in Healthy Older Adults

Hypertension ◽

10.1161/hyp.60.suppl_1.a13 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 60 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Demetra D Christou ◽

Jeung-Ki Yoo ◽

Moon-Hyon Hwang ◽

Meredith Luttrell ◽

Han-Kyul Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Carotid Artery ◽

Arterial Stiffness ◽

Mineralocorticoid Receptor ◽

Augmentation Index ◽

Stiffness Index ◽

Double Blind ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Carotid Artery Compliance

Arterial stiffness, an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease, is increased in aging, but the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. We hypothesized that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation is partly responsible for increased arterial stiffness and that MR blockade would lead to arterial destiffening in healthy older adults. To test this hypothesis, we administered in a randomized, double blind, crossover study, 100 mg of Eplerenone (MR blocker) or placebo once per day for one month with one month washout, in 23 healthy older adults (age, 64±1 years; mean±SE) and assessed arterial stiffness (aortic, arm and leg pulse wave velocity (PWV; doppler flowmeter) and carotid artery compliance, distensibility, beta-stiffness index, augmentation index (high resolution ultrasonography and applanation tonometry). Despite reductions in blood pressure in response to Eplerenone (systolic blood pressure: 127±3 vs. 120±2 mmHg, P=0.01; diastolic blood pressure: 74±1 vs.72±1 mmHg, P=0.02; placebo vs. Eplerenone), arterial stiffness did not change (aortic PWV, 9.2±1.2 vs. 8.9±1.2m/sec, P=0.5; arm PWV, 11.4±0.6 vs. 11.7±0.7 m/sec, P=0.7; leg PWV, 13.4±0.4 vs.12.8±0.5 m/sec, P=0.3; carotid artery compliance, 0.17±0.02 vs. 0.16±0.02 mm 2 /mmHg, P=0.6; distensibility, 12.7±1.6 vs.13.6±1.5 10 -3 kPa -1 , P=0.6; beta stiffness index, 3.2±0.3 vs. 3.4±0.3, P=0.5; augmentation index, 24.3±2.9 vs. 22.0±2.9 %, P=0.3, placebo vs. Eplerenone). In conclusion, MR blockade does not result in arterial destiffening in healthy older adults despite reductions in blood pressure.

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Oral glucose tolerance test reduces arterial baroreflex sensitivity in older adults

Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.1139/y07-126 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 86 (3) ◽

pp. 71-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kenneth M. Madden ◽

Gale Tedder ◽

Chris Lockhart ◽

Graydon S. Meneilly

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Older Adults ◽

Glucose Tolerance ◽

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test ◽

Glucose Tolerance Test ◽

Tolerance Test ◽

Oral Glucose ◽

Arterial Baroreflex ◽

Oral Glucose Tolerance ◽

Healthy Older Adults

Although postprandial decreases in blood pressure are a common cause of syncope in the older adult population, the postprandial effects of the oral glucose tolerance test on blood pressure and the arterial baroreflex remain poorly characterized in older adults. Therefore, arterial blood pressure and the arterial baroreflex were studied in 19 healthy older adults (mean age 71.7 ± 1.1 years) who were given a standardized oral glucose load (75 g) or an isovolumetric sham drink during 2 separate sessions. All measures were taken for 120 min after treatment. Baroreflex function was assessed by using the spontaneous baroreflex method (baroreflex sensitivity, BRS). Subjects demonstrated a decrease in BRS after oral glucose that was not seen in the placebo session (two-way analysis of variance, p = 0.04). There was no significant change in systolic, mean, or diastolic blood pressure; together with a drop in BRS, this resulted in a significant tachycardia post glucose (two-way analysis of variance, p < 0.001). We conclude that healthy older adults can successfully maintain blood pressure during an oral glucose tolerance test despite a decrease in arterial BRS. Decreased BRS resulted in a tachycardic response to glucose.

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