Nitrate rich beetroot juice (BRJ) can enhance nitric oxide signaling, leading to improved physical function in healthy and diseased populations, but its safety and biologic efficacy have not been evaluated in a critically ill population. We randomized 22 previously functional acute respiratory failure patients to either BRJ or placebo daily until day 14 or discharge. We measured blood nitrate and nitrite levels and quantified strength and physical function at intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital discharge. Participants were predominantly male (54%), aged 68.5 years with an APACHE III score of 62. BRJ increased plasma nitrate (mean 219.2 μM increase, p = 0.002) and nitrite levels (mean 0.144 μM increase, p = 0.02). We identified no adverse events. The unadjusted and adjusted effect sizes of the intervention on the short physical performance battery were small (d = 0.12 and d = 0.17, respectively). In this pilot trial, administration of BRJ was feasible and safe, increased blood nitrate and nitrate levels, but had a small effect on physical function. Future studies could evaluate the clinical efficacy of BRJ as a therapy to improve physical function in survivors of critical illness.

中文翻译：

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甜菜根汁补充硝酸盐用于急性呼吸衰竭的随机先导研究。

富含硝酸盐的甜菜根汁（BRJ）可以增强一氧化氮的信号传导，从而改善健康和患病人群的身体机能，但尚未在危重人群中评估其安全性和生物学功效。我们每天将22名先前有功能的急性呼吸衰竭患者随机分为BRJ或安慰剂组，直至第14天或出院。我们测量了重症监护病房（ICU）和出院时的血液硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐水平，并量化了强度和身体功能。参与者主要是男性（54％），年龄68.5岁，APACHE III评分为62。BRJ升高血浆硝酸盐（平均增加219.2μM，p = 0.002）和亚硝酸盐水平（平均增加0.144μM，p = 0.02）。我们未发现不良事件。短物理性能电池干预的未调整和调整后的效果大小较小（分别为d = 0.12和d = 0.17）。在该试验性试验中，BRJ的给药是可行和安全的，可增加血液中的硝酸盐和硝酸盐水平，但对身体功能的影响很小。未来的研究可能会评估BRJ作为改善危重症幸存者身体机能的疗法的临床疗效。