Beetroot Juice: a Natural Aid for Boosting the Health Benefits of Exercise in Post-menopausal Women?

NCT07572877 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: AKGrotle
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Menopause and ageing bring several changes to women's health, partly due to a decline in the hormone estrogen. This reduction affects multiple systems in the body, including muscles and bones, and also influences the production of nitric oxide, a molecule that plays a key role in regulating blood flow and blood pressure. An reduced ability to produce nitric oxide is associated with higher blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Many women also experience lower levels of physical activity and changes in body composition during midlife, such as increased body fat and reduced muscle mass and strength, which may further decrease exercise capacity. This PhD project investigates whether a simple, natural strategy, combining exercise with beetroot juice, can help postmenopausal women achieve greater benefits from exercise. Beetroot juice is naturally rich in nitrates, which the body can convert into nitric oxide, thereby enhancing blood flow. Exercise itself also stimulates nitric oxide production, and together these approaches may have additive or even synergistic effects. The study examines whether consuming beetroot juice before exercise can enhance training adaptations and health outcomes in postmenopausal women. Key outcomes include cardiovascular function, body composition, musculoskeletal function, and aerobic capacity. Some evidence suggests that beetroot juice may amplify the body's response to exercise, which could be particularly beneficial for postmenopausal women, who often face greater barriers to physical activity. By exploring this combined approach, the project aims to evaluate a safe, non-pharmacological strategy to improve physical function and overall health in women after menopause.

Conditions

Post-menopause

Keywords

exercise; beetroot juice; strength training; endurance training; cardiometabolic health; muscleskeletal function; exercise performance; body composition

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Maximal oxygen uptake

  Maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) will be measured using a standardized incremental exercise test to volitional exhaustion on a cycle ergometer, with continuous analysis of expired gases (indirect calorimetry). VO₂max will be determined as the highest VO₂ value achieved during the test and reported as ml/min and ml/kg/min. Validity of test will be determined based on established criteria such as a plateau in oxygen uptake despite increasing workload, a respiratory exchange ratio above a predefined threshold (e.g., ≥1.10), and/or attainment of age-predicted maximal heart rate. When a clear plateau is not observed, the highest recorded VO₂ (VO₂peak) will be reported.

  Before and after 12 weeks of intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Skeletal muscle strength

  Before and after 12 weeks of intervention

• Exercise economy

  Before and after 12 weeks of intervention

• Lean mass

  Before and after 12 weeks of intervention

• Resting blood pressure

  Before and after 12 weeks of intervention

• Blood pressure reactivity

  Before and after 12 weeks of intervention

Other Outcomes (7)

• Arterial stiffness

  Before and after 12 weeks of intervention

• Endothelial function

  Before and after 12 weeks of intervention

• Pelvic floor strength

  Before and after 12 weeks of intervention

Study Arms (2)

Nitrate rich

EXPERIMENTAL

Dietary Supplement: Beetroot Juice (Beet-It Stamina Shot) & Supervised Exercise Training

Nitrate depleted

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Dietary Supplement: Beetroot Juice (Beet-It Stamina Shot) & Supervised Exercise Training

Interventions

Beetroot Juice (Beet-It Stamina Shot) & Supervised Exercise Training DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Intervention includes 3 sessions per week of combined strength and resistance exercise. Two of the sessions are supervised, while the third session is unsupervised-home-based.

Nitrate depleted; Nitrate rich

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 50 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Self-reported biological female and postmenopausal (≥12 months of amenorrhea)
• Aged 50-70 years
• Body mass index (BMI) 25-39.9 kg/m²
• No contraindications to exercise
• Physically inactive (\<150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity activity)
• Able to walk on a treadmill and ambulate without limitations
• Adequate proficiency in Norwegian to complete questionnaires
• Willingness and ability to comply with the study schedule and visits

You may not qualify if:

• Known allergy to nitrates or beetroot juice
• Current smoker or use of nicotine/tobacco products
• Resting blood pressure \<90/60 mmHg
• Hypertension greater than stage II (≥160/100 mmHg, ESH criteria)
• Use of prescription medications affecting heart rate (e.g., systemic β-adrenergic blockers) or nitrate availability (e.g., nitrates, proton pump inhibitors)
• History of cardiovascular disease (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemic heart disease, peripheral artery disease, valvular disease, or aortic aneurysm)
• Symptoms suggestive of heart disease (e.g., chest pain or dyspnea)
• Major metabolic disease (e.g., type 1 or type 2 diabetes) or thyroid disorders
• Recent cancer diagnosis or treatment (within the past 5 years)
• Significant orthopedic limitations or other contraindications to exercise
• Diagnosed cognitive impairment
• Planned travel or elective surgery that would interfere with adherence to the intervention
• Psychological or social factors that may interfere with study participation
• Residing beyond a reasonable distance from the study site (logistical constraints)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Western Norway University of Applied Sciences: lead

Study Sites (1)

Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

Bergen, 5063, Norway

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Ann-Katrin Grotle, PhD

  Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Ann-Katrin Grotle, PhD

CONTACT

+4790960580; ann-katrin.grotle@hvl.no

Brit Jorun Liseth, MSc

CONTACT

+4790013513; brit.jorun.fossan.liseth@hvl.no

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 19, 2026
• First Posted: May 7, 2026
• Study Start: February 11, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2030
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2033
• Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Locations

NO (1)