The Potential Benefits of Red Beetroot Supplementation in Health and Disease

Abstract

In recent years there has been a growing interest in the biological activity of red beetroot (Beta vulgaris rubra) and its potential utility as a health promoting and disease preventing functional food. As a source of nitrate, beetroot ingestion provides a natural means of increasing in vivo nitric oxide (NO) availability and has emerged as a potential strategy to prevent and manage pathologies associated with diminished NO bioavailability, notably hypertension and endothelial function. Beetroot is also being considered as a promising therapeutic treatment in a range of clinical pathologies associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Its constituents, most notably the betalain pigments, display potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and chemo-preventive activity in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this review is to discuss beetroot’s biological activity and to evaluate evidence from studies that specifically investigated the effect of beetroot supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, cognition and endothelial function.

Challenges and Prospects for Building Resilient Disease Management Strategies and Tactics for the New York Table Beet Industry

“…The growth of the industry is fueled by an enhanced awareness of the health benefits of consuming table beets and beet-based products [5]. These well-documented effects range from nutritional intervention to disease mitigation [5].…”

“…The growth of the industry is fueled by an enhanced awareness of the health benefits of consuming table beets and beet-based products [5]. These well-documented effects range from nutritional intervention to disease mitigation [5]. Among the most commonly reported physiological changes associated with beet consumption include improvements in cardiovascular health and sugar metabolism attributed to the rich source of dietary nitrate [6,7], the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of betalains [8] and the potential to improve stamina in exercise [9].…”

Beet Kvass and Gut Health

“…Beet kvass is one of the best natural sources of antioxidants, which are molecules that heal your cells and protect them from damage [3]. It even stimulates your own body's production of these crucial protective compounds, helping to reverse the DNA and tissue damage caused by toxins, inflammation, and other environmental stressors [3].…”

“…It even stimulates your own body's production of these crucial protective compounds, helping to reverse the DNA and tissue damage caused by toxins, inflammation, and other environmental stressors [3]. Additionally, it significantly decreases inflammation in the body, a key part of breaking the vicious cycle of intestinal damage and dysbiosis [3]. Beet kvass, as a fermented drink, is also teeming with beneficial bacteria that help protect the gut and produce important enzymes that aid digestion.…”

Application of Plant Biotechnology Techniques in Antioxidant Production

“…On the other hand, betalain has been produced from the hairy root culture of Beta vulgaris L (red beetroot). The suitable technique for cultivation of hairy roots is immersion which has previously been implemented and the result was 18.8 mg/g dry biomass (DB) and betalains (9.6 mg/g DB betacyanins and 9.2 mg/ g DB betaxanthins) (Yeddes et al, 2013;Clifford et al, 2015;Pavlov et al, 2006).…”