Acute Beetroot Juice Supplementation in Pre-eclampsia Pregnancies

NCT06387784 · tracked via the Priya Life Science Brazil tracker

Sponsor

University of Sao Paulo

Phase

Not applicable

Started

2026-05-18

Last updated

2026-04-21

Condition(s) studied

Pre-EclampsiaPregnacy

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Beetroot juicePlacebo juice

Beetroot juice: In the morning, pregnant women with pre-eclampsia will consume a single dose of 70 ml of nitrate-rich beetroot juice containing 400 mg of nitrate. Participants will be monitored to assess the acute effects of nitrate intake for 6 hours.

Placebo juice: In the morning, pregnant women with pre-eclampsia will consume 70 ml of a placebo juice. The placebo juice will be similar in appearance and taste to the nitrate-rich beetroot juice. Participants will be monitored to compare the acute effects of beetroot juice with the placebo intake for 6 hours.

Study summary

Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition that typically affects pregnant women after the 20th week of pregnancy, characterized by high blood pressure and damage to organs such as the kidneys and liver. Currently, treatment options are limited, which has prompted researchers to explore alternative approaches. One such promising alternative is dietary nitrate found in vegetables like beetroot, as nitrate can be converted into nitric oxide in the body, which helps lower blood pressure. This study aims to determine the acute effects of nitrate-rich beetroot juice on blood pressure, several blood and salivary markers in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnant. Furthermore, the study will assess fetal blood flow using Doppler ultrasound. We want to understand the kinetics of nitrate and nitric oxide metabolites and assess the temporal dependency of the hypotensive response. Through this investigation, we seek evidence of nitrate-enriched beetroot juice as an adjunct therapy in managing pre-eclampsia.

Eligibility

Sex

FEMALE

Min age

18 Years

Max age

40 Years

Healthy volunteers

1. Pre-eclampsia pregnat women Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women at or beyond the 20th week of gestation. * Hospitalized at Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. * Diagnosed with early-onset pre-eclampsia confirmed by a medical professional. * Capacity to provide written informed consent for study participation. Exclusion Criteria: * Multiple pregnancies. * Uncontrolled arterial hypertension (Systolic Blood Pressure \> 160 mmHg or Diastolic Blood Pressure \> 100 mmHg). * Pregnant women with a body mass index \> 40 kg/m² * Severe gestational complications. * History of food allergy with hypersensitivity to beetroot. * Smokers. * Chronic alcohol consumption. * Medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, nasal decongestants, users of proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor antagonists or any other medication that interferes with stomach pH. * Diagnosis of renal or hepatic disease affecting nitrate metabolism. * Cardiac conditions such as moderate to severe congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease. * Pre-existing type 1 or type 2 diabetes. 2. Healthy Pregnant Women Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy pregnant women at or beyond the 20th week of gestation. * Absence of pre-eclampsia diagnosis or other obstetric complications. * Willingness and ability to remain admitted at the Clinical Research Unit for the - period required by the study. * Capacity to provide written informed consent for study participation. Exclusion Criteria: \- The same exclusion criteria from Pre-eclampsia group apply.

Primary outcome measure(s)

Acute Effect of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Blood Pressure — At 0, 3, and 6 hours after supplementation, beginning 30 minutes prior to ingestion, compared with a placebo group.
Evaluation of the acute effect of beetroot juice supplementation on blood pressure (measured in millimeters of mercury-mmHg) in pregnant women diagnosed with early preeclampsia and in healthy pregnant women.

Trial sites (2)

Facility	City	Region	Status
Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto	Ribeirão Preto	São Paulo
Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP	Ribeirão Preto	São Paulo

More University of Sao Paulo trials in Brazil

Metacognitive Training With Bipolar Disorder Patients. Active, not recruiting

Physiotherapeutic Approach to Superficial and Deep Dyspareunia in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain: Comparison Between In-person and Telehealth Care. Active, not recruiting

Effects of Periodontitis on Heart Rate Variability Active, not recruiting

Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound Modulation of Thalamic Nuclei for Central Neuropathic Pain. Active, not recruiting

Effects of Adjunct Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy in Periodontal Treatment of Patients With Obesity Recruiting

Official registry record

This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.

View NCT06387784 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ ← All trials in Brazil