Beet juice and blood pressure:
Effect of beetroot juice on blood pressure: Researchers used 14 healthy volunteers aged 18-45 in an open-label crossover design study to examine the effect of taking 500 mL of beet juice on dietary nitrate levels. Systolic blood pressure (BP) approximately 3 hours after ingestion dropped by 10.4±3.0 mm Hg (p<0.01) while diastolic BP dropped 8.1±2.1 mm Hg. This drop in BP signaled an increase in nitric acid in the blood. The beneficial effects of a drop in BP lasted 24 hours. In conclusion, dietary nitrate may lower blood pressure among healthy individuals. (75)
Beetroot juice interactions and adverse reactions:
Caution in patients already taking prescribed nitrates or blood pressure lowering medication since beet juice may potentiate lowering of blood pressure. Beet juice increases plasma nitrate levels and dangerous drop in blood pressure may occur if taken with other nitrate medications such as sublingual nitroglycerin, nitroglycerin paste, nitroglycerin patches, Imdur, Isordil, and Viagra.