EDEN-OX the effect of dietary nitrate on exercise in hypoxia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
EDEN-Ox. Effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on exercise performance in hypoxia
IRAS ID
182174
Contact name
R Nicholson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN14888729
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background: Despite optimum medical treatment many patients with lung disease remain significantly disabled. There is evidence that dietary nitrate supplementation can reduce the oxygen cost of exercise but it is not clear if this improves exercise capacity.
The purpose of this project is to investigate whether dietary nitrate supplementation in the form of a single dose of beetroot juice can improve the distance that people with lung disease who are dependent on oxygen can walk.
Study Design: A single centre, double blind randomised placebo controlled trial in patients with COPD, interstitial lung disease or pulmonary hypertension who need to use oxygen when they walk. It will compare the effect of 140ml of nitrate rich beetroot juice (0.8g nitrate) vs 140ml of placebo (nitrate depleted beetroot juice) on exercise capacity measured using a walking test.
20 patients from each of the 3 diagnostic categories will be studied. They will perform an externally paced walking test (called an “endurance shuttle walk”) after consuming either active or placebo drink. The primary outcome will be how long they can walk for.
We will also study the effect of the supplement on heart rate and blood oxygen levels during the walk.
Expected outcome: There is a need for novel strategies to improve exercise capacity in people with lung disease. As a relatively cheap, non-drug intervention beetroot juice has the potential to be widely applicable. If this pilot study is positive it would lead to larger trials of longer term treatment in this population.REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0975
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion