Nitrite-boosting Therapy for Improving Physiological Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

University of Colorado Boulder

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder want to know more about how supplements may help physiological function in chronic kidney disease.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an essential molecule in the body that is decreased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), leading to reductions in vascular, movement (“motor”) and cognitive functions. This study will determine if daily oral treatment (3 months) with a supplement that increases NO in the body (made up of nitrate-rich beetroot juice) improves vascular, motor and cognitive function in patients with CKD.

This study will also provide insight into the biological reasons (mechanisms) by which supplementation with nitrate-rich beetroot juice improves vascular function in these patients. Overall, this research will provide scientific evidence supporting the use of nitrate-rich beetroot juice for preserving physiological function and preventing co-morbid clinical conditions and disability in CKD.

 

You may qualify for the study if:

  • Males and females between 30 – 80 years of age
  • Kidney function by eGFR is between 20-90 mL/min/1.73m2
  • Blood pressure at least 100/60 mmHg for the past 3 months
  • BMI less than 40 kg/m2

 

Exclusion Criteria:

  • On dialysis
  • History of severe liver disease
  • History of severe congestive heart failure (i.e., ejection fraction < 35%)
  • History of hospitalizations within the last 3 months
  • Unwilling to abstain from use of mouthwash or other oral hygiene practices (e.g., tongue scraping) outside of teeth brushing that disrupt the oral microbiome and would interfere with nitrate conversion to nitrite
  • Blood donation within 8 weeks prior to enrolling in the study; unwilling to abstain from donating blood for 8 weeks after completing the study

Locations:

University of Colorado Boulder – Integrative Physiology of Aging Laboratory