BEETMEN
What is the purpose of the study?
Investigating the effects of nitrate rich beetroot juice on microvascular blood flow and cognitive function in a post-menopausal population.
Ingestion of inorganic nitrate causes increased nitric oxide (NO) which is known to lead to vasodilation, reducing blood pressure and increasing blood flow. It is possible that these vascular improvements may translate to improved cognitive function. This could be particularly important as post-menopausal women have reduced nitric oxide availability and increased vascular impairment.
Much of the research to date has focused on the large blood vessels, and little is known about the impact on small blood vessels and cognitive function in a post-menopausal population.
Participants in this study must be
- Healthy post-menopausal women over 45.
- Non-smokers.
- Not currently on HRT.
If you would like to participate you would first need to complete a short screening questionnaire with us over the telephone or via email, after which potentially eligible volunteers will be invited to attend a screening visit lasting around 30 mins, in the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Harry Nursten Building, University of Reading, RG6 6A.
If you are eligible for the study, you will attend the Hugh Sinclair Unit for three morning study visits, each lasting approximately 4.5-5 hours.
For enquiries, please contact nutritionvolunteers@reading.ac.uk .