BEET-Winter
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Nitric oxide for preventing and reducing the severity of winter viral infections in care (residential and nursing) homes (BEET-Winter)
IRAS ID
288542
Contact name
Philip Bath
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN51124684
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 28 days
Research summary
Epidemic winter respiratory infections cause much morbidity and mortality in care (residential and nursing) homes. Common viral causes include influenza viruses, respiratory viruses, rhinovirus and coronaviruses, as well as bacterial infections. Nursing homes also have winter outbreaks of gastrointestinal tract infections, e.g. viral gastroenteritis due to norovirus, and skin and soft-tissue infections. There is increasing concern that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, will worsen again during the 2020 autumn and winter and so co-exist with regular winter epidemic infections. As a result, there is a triple risk this winter (and potentially in future winters) of: (i) a surge in COVID-19; (ii) standard winter infections, especially RSV and influenza; and (iii) dual or triple infections with COVID-19 and winter viruses in the same individuals.
Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Antiviral and antibacterial activity has been demonstrated against many of the common causes of respiratory, gastrointestinal and soft-tissue infections. NO donors may be particularly relevant due to their potential generic antimicrobial effects even in the presence of vaccination, and especially since resistance against NO appears to be rare.
The intervention and placebo are foods and are readily available in supermarkets and online. The intervention NO in the form of 70ml of beetroot juice containing 400mg nitrate given once per day for 60 days compared to a placebo beetroot juice containing 0mg nitrate.
The trial will be a cluster randomised trial taking place in 26 residential/nursing homes, each recruiting 16 residents. The objectives of the trial are to:
1. To assess the feasibility of recruiting nursing/care homes, randomising, and treating residents with active vs placebo nitrate to inform a definitive trial.
2. To assess the effect of nitrate on the incidence and severity of winter infections.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/WM/0278
Date of REC Opinion
19 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion