Evidence supporting the use of: Beet
For the health condition: Angina

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) has garnered scientific interest for its potential cardiovascular benefits, primarily due to its high content of dietary nitrates. When consumed, these nitrates are converted in the body to nitric oxide, a molecule known to promote vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) and improve blood flow. This mechanism is relevant to angina pectoris, a condition characterized by chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

Some small-scale clinical trials and mechanistic studies suggest that dietary nitrate supplementation from beetroot can improve endothelial function, lower blood pressure, and enhance exercise tolerance. A few studies have shown that beetroot juice or nitrate supplementation can reduce oxygen cost during exercise and may improve exercise capacity in patients with cardiovascular diseases, including those with angina. However, direct evidence specifically supporting beetroot use as a treatment for angina is limited. Most studies have focused on surrogate markers such as blood pressure and exercise performance, rather than on angina frequency or severity as primary outcomes.

In summary, while there is a plausible scientific rationale and some preliminary evidence that beetroot could be beneficial for angina through improving vascular function and reducing oxygen demand, robust clinical trials specifically targeting angina outcomes are lacking. As such, the scientific evidence supporting beetroot for angina is promising but currently limited, warranting a modest rating.

More about beet
More about Angina