Nitrate Intake Increases Diaphragm Peak Power

Foods high in nitrates, such as beets, may have beneficial effects on the diaphragm.

In a new study in the “Journal of Physiology”, researchers assessed a group of mice and randomly assigned half of them to consume a high intake of nitrates for 14 days. After two weeks, muscle samples were extracted from the diaphragm muscle. Compared to the age-matched controls, the mice who were given the nitrates exhibited superior muscle contractile function.

Conclusions

Many patients exhibit impaired diaphragmatic functioning, which can contribute to a host of negative health consequences. Foods high in nitrates, such as beets, may be valuable for promoting the health of this important muscle.

References

Kumar, R. A., Kelley, R. C., Hahn, D., & Ferreira, L. F. (2020). Dietary nitrate supplementation increases diaphragm peak power in old mice. The Journal of Physiology598(19), 4357-4369.