About this trial
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 criteria
Qualifiers
Pre-eclampsia pregnat women
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.
Disqualifiers
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.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Beetroot juice
- Placebo juice
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
University of Sao Paulo
Lead sponsor
Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto
Collaborator
Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho
Collaborator