Recruiting

Beetroot Juice vs. Nitrate-Free Beetroot Juice

Sponsor:

University of British Columbia

Code:

NCT04299945

Conditions

Interstitial Lung Disease

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

concentrated beetroot juice (400mg of nitrate per serving)

concentrated beetroot juice (trace amounts of nitrate per serving)

Study Details

Brief summary:

Exercise training as part of a structured pulmonary rehabilitation program is a key factor in improving quality of life and symptoms in people with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Optimal methods of exercise training are yet to be explored in ILD. Drinking beetroot juice, which is rich in nitrate, has been shown to improve exercise performance in a variety of groups, but its effects in ILD have not been tested. The purpose of this study is to determine if drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice can improve exercise performance compared to drinking nitrate-free beetroot juice in people with ILD.

Conditions

Interstitial Lung Disease

Study ID

NCT04299945

Start date

Aug 7, 2024

Status verified date

May, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 31, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 19+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • A multidisciplinary diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), idiopathic fibrotic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), or unclassifiable ILD with a differential diagnosis that consists of the above diagnoses
  • Fibrosis on high resolution computed tomography (HRCT): honeycombing, reticulation, or traction bronchiectasis
  • Oxygen saturation ≥92% by pulse oximetry at rest while breathing room air
  • Clinically stable for the preceding 6 weeks
  • Can fluently read and write in English

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindication to exercise testing (e.g. significant cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological disease) (see Table 4 from ERS/ATS consensus statement)
  • Other significant pulmonary or extra-pulmonary disease that, based on clinical assessment, could impair exercise capacity and/or oxygenation
  • FVC <50% or DLCO <25%
  • Use of prednisone >10 mg/day for >2 weeks within 3 months of the first study visit
  • Cardiac pacemaker or any metal or electronics inside of the body

Study Design

Enrollment

15 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Dietary nitrate supplementation

The dietary nitrate supplement will be a concentrated, nitrate-rich beetroot juice (70 ml providing ∼400mg nitrate per serving)

placebo comparator: Placebo

The placebo will be a concentrated, nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (70 ml with trace amounts of nitrate)

Interventions

concentrated beetroot juice (400mg of nitrate per serving)

Dietary nitrate supplementation includes consumption of two beverages daily for 7 consecutive days.

concentrated beetroot juice (trace amounts of nitrate per serving)

Dietary placebo supplementation includes consumption of two beverages daily for 7 consecutive days.

Primary outcome measure

  • Difference in submaximal cycle exercise endurance time following dietary nitrate supplementation compared to placebo supplementation. [ Time Frame: 1 Week ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Olivia Ferguson, MSc

604-806-8835Olivia.Ferguson@hli.ubc.ca

Dhillon Satvir, MSc

604-806-8835satvir.dhillon@hli.ubc.ca

Locations

Providence Health Care - St. Paul's Hosptial

Recruiting

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6Z 1Y6

Contacts

Jordan Guenette, Ph.D

604-682-2344jordan.guenette@hli.ubc.ca

Vancouver Coastal Health

Recruiting

Vancouver, Canada, V5Z 1M9

More Information

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Last update posted

May 18, 2026

Last verified

May, 2026

Keywords

  • ILD
  • Nitrates
  • exercise
  • interstitial lung disease

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of British Columbia on 2026-05-18.