Organic beet leaves and stalk juice attenuates HDL-C reduction induced by high-fat meal in dyslipidemic patients: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Beet leaves and stalks are rich in polyphenols; however, their effect on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in humans, to our knowledge, has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the acute effect of beet leaves and stalk juice, containing different concentrations of polyphenols, on lipemia, glycemic control, nitric oxide concentration, and blood pressure in patients with dyslipidemia after a high-fat meal.

Methods: In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study, patients 20 to 59 y of age with dyslipidemia were fed a single high-fat meal supplemented with either a placebo or one of two organic beet leaves and stalk juices rich in polyphenols (32 or 77.5 mg EAG/100 mL) with a 1-wk washout. Thus, each group was composed of 13 patients. Blood samples were obtained at fasting and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min after intervention. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triacylglycerols, glucose, insulin, nitrite and nitrate, and blood pressure were assessed at each time period. The high-fat meal increased triacylglycerol levels after 120 (P < 0.001) and 180 min (P < 0.001) and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol after 60 min (P < 0.05). This reduction was attenuated in both groups that received BLS juices after 120 min (P = 0.005). A reduction in diastolic blood pressure within groups that received BLS juice was also observed.

Results: There was no significant difference between groups for other biomarkers.

Conclusion: The beet leaves and stalk juice attenuated the reduction of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol induced by a high-fat meal.