Effectiveness of Beetroot Juice as Adjuvant Therapy on Blood Pressure among Patients with Hypertension

Abstract

The present study was intended to assess the effectiveness of beetroot juice as adjuvant therapy on blood pressure among patients with hypertension attending Noncommunicable Disease Clinic, Ambalappuzha. Quasi experimental one group pre-test post-test design was adopted. A sample of 35 patients with hypertension was selected consecutively. The tool consisted of an interview schedule to determine the sociopersonal and clinical data and a standardized calibrated mercury sphygmomanometer and stethoscope to measure the blood pressure. 1 week apart, two pre-test blood pressure measurements were taken at patient's home. The researcher administered 200 ml of beetroot juice to the patients before breakfast for 14 consecutive days in addition to existing antihypertensive drug therapy. Post-test blood pressure measurements were taken on the 8th and 15th day of initiating the therapy at patient's home. It was found that the pre-test value of systolic BP, 148.13±5.36 mm Hg was reduced to 139.29±5.43 mm Hg and the pre-test value of diastolic BP, 92.52±3.05 mm Hg was reduced to 88.39±4.39 mm Hg after adjuvant therapy for 14 consecutive days. Paired-t test revealed a crucial difference in the level of blood pressure among patients with hypertension after adjuvant therapy with beetroot juice (p=<0.001). Chi-square analysis showed that there was no significant association between change in blood pressure and selected variables among patients with hypertension. The study concluded that beetroot juice as adjuvant therapy was effective in reducing blood pressure among patients with hypertension.