Effects of Beet Juice Supplementation on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Recently, attention has been focused on the cardiovascular protective effects of beet juice (BJ) with high amounts of nitrate. In this study, we examined the effect of BJ supplementation in a rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH).

METHODS:

MCT (60 mg/kg) was subcutaneously administered to rats, and BJ (prepared by dissolving BJ powder at a concentration of 1 g/l or 10 g/l in drinking water) supplementation was started from the day of, 1 week before, and 2 weeks after MCT injection. Saline-injected rats given drinking water were used as controls.

RESULTS:

Low-dose BJ supplementation starting from the day of MCT injection exerted protective effects on the MCT-induced elevation of right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, and pulmonary arterial remodeling, without causing a significant increase in plasma nitrite plus nitrate (NOx) levels. On the other hand, such beneficial effects were not observed with high-dose BJ supplementation, although the NOx levels were slightly higher than those in the low-dose group. In addition, low-dose BJ supplementation starting from 1 week before MCT injection did not improve PH symptoms, as described above. Furthermore, low-dose BJ supplementation starting from 2 weeks after MCT injection was ineffective against functional and morphological alterations in pulmonary circulation associated with MCT-induced PH.

CONCLUSIONS:

Habitual ingestion of a suitable amount of BJ could be a potential option for preventing PH. However, beneficial effects cannot be expected when PH has developed to some degree.

• Authors: Masashi Tawa, Yoko Yano, Misaki Yamanaka, Tatsuya Sawano, Kana Iesaki, Yuka Murata, Ryosuke Tanaka, Keisuke Nakagawa, Mamoru Ohkita, Yasuo Matsumura
• Journal: American journal of hypertension (Am J Hypertens) Vol. 32 Issue 2 Pg. 216-222 (01 15 2019) ISSN: 1941-7225 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 30265283 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Nitric Oxide
• Monocrotaline

Topics

• Animals
• Arterial Pressure
• Beta vulgaris
• Dietary Supplements
• Disease Models, Animal
• Fruit and Vegetable Juices
• Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular (chemically induced, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Male
• Monocrotaline
• Nitric Oxide (metabolism)
• Plant Roots
• Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (chemically induced, metabolism, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Pulmonary Artery (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Vascular Remodeling
• Ventricular Dysfunction, Right (chemically induced, physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Ventricular Function, Right