Effects of Beetroot Extract on Blood Pressure and Exercise in Hypertensive Older Women
Acute Effects of Beetroot Extract Supplementation on Blood Pressure, Oxidative Stress, and Muscle Oxygen Saturation in Hypertensive Older Women Submitted to an Aerobic Exercise Session
About This Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about the acute effects of beetroot extract in older women with high blood pressure. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does beetroot extract affect blood pressure during exercise? Does it change oxygen levels in the muscles? Participants will take a beetroot supplement and perform an aerobic exercise session to check how their bodies respond.
Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)
Original Eligibility Criteria
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Treatments Being Tested
Beetroot Extract (Nitrate-rich)
Participants will ingest 2 capsules of a standardized beetroot extract (Berkeley Life Nitric Oxide Foundation). Each dose provides approximately 314 mg of dietary nitrate.
Placebo
Capsules identical in appearance, color, and size to the experimental supplement, but containing an inert substance (starch). This intervention is used to maintain the double-blind design of the study.
Exercise
Participants will perform a single aerobic exercise session on a treadmill. The protocol consists of a 7-minute warm-up followed by 30 minutes of continuous exercise at an intensity corresponding to 60-80% of maximum heart rate (HRmax), estimated using Tanaka's formula (208 - 0.7 \* age). Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) will be monitored periodically using the Borg scale (6-20).
Rest (Control Condition)
Participants will remain seated for 30 minutes (matching the exercise session duration). During this time, a researcher will administer a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) in an interview format. This activity serves to assess dietary habits and simulates a routine, low-exertion daily activity (similar to a conversation), acting as a time-matched control for the exercise session.