Inorganic nitrate fortification in food
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An open-label, randomised, crossover study to investigate the feasibility of nitrate fortification in commonly consumed foods for regulating nitric oxide metabolism in healthy individuals.
IRAS ID
357570
Contact name
Amrita Ahluwalia
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases, leading to more than seven million deaths per year. Although there are various medications available to manage high blood pressure, they work in only about 50% of cases in England.
Previous research showed that dietary nitrate, found in leafy green vegetables and beetroot, can help lower blood pressure and support heart health. The World Health Organization has set the daily nitrate intake to 3.7 mg per kilogram of body weight. However, most individuals do not achieve this level through fruit and vegetables consumption.
Concentrated nitrate supplements like beetroot juice have become popular. However, these supplements can be expensive, high in sugar, and may not to everyone’s taste.
Since over three-quarters of adults with high blood pressure live in low- and middle-income countries, it is important to find ways to add nitrate safely to more affordable and commonly eaten foods. The team at Queen Mary University of London has been creating nitrate-fortified products that might be more appealing to most people. With support from food manufacturer Reading Scientific Services Ltd. (RSSL), they have successfully added nitrate to three cereal-based products: cereal bars, porridge, and biscuits.
Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the feasibility of nitrate fortification in commonly consumed foods for regulating nitric oxide metabolism and blood pressure in healthy individuals. The results will support the future use of
nitrate-fortified foods to improve heart health in a wider population.REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0565
Date of REC Opinion
26 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion