Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in older adults by reshaping oral bacteria
In a two‑week, double‑blind crossover trial, older adults who drank nitrate‑rich beetroot juice twice daily showed a drop in blood pressure and a shift in oral bacteria (reduced Prevotella, increased Neisseria) that supports the nitrate-to-nitric oxide pathway; younger adults experienced microbiome changes but no blood pressure reduction. The study suggests dietary nitrate from beetroot and similar vegetables could aid vascular health in aging, but is not a replacement for medication and responses vary with the oral microbiome.
