NCT05401409: BEET-PKD

Effect of Beetroot Juice on Reducing Hypertension in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 8 June 2025

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Beetroot juice in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney in 60 participants. Completed in 24 March 2023.

Timeline

5 May 2022

Primary endpoint
24 March 2023

24 March 2023

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Western Sydney Local Health District
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	parallel
Masking	quadruple
Primary purpose	treatment
Enrollment	60
Start date	5 May 2022
Primary completion	24 March 2023
Estimated completion	24 March 2023
Sites	2 locations across Australia

Drugs / interventions tested

• Beetroot juice — full drug profile →
• Nitrate-depleted beetroot juice

Conditions studied

• Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney — all drugs for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney →
• Hypertension — all drugs for Hypertension →
• Endothelial Dysfunction — all drugs for Endothelial Dysfunction →

Sponsor

Western Sydney Local Health District — full company profile →

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney or Hypertension. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Change in Clinic Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure From Baseline to 4 Weeks (End of Study) Primary · 4 weeks

Change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure over two time points - from readings taken at baseline (visit 1) compared with readings taken at 4 weeks (which was the end of the study; visit 3)

Systolic blood pressure

Group	Value	95% CI
Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	-5.36	± 12.69
Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice	-7.65	± 14.07

Diastolic blood pressure

Group	Value	95% CI
Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	-3.55	± 7.08
Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice	-2.73	± 7.81

Average Change in Daily Home Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Per Week, Over 4 Weeks Secondary · 4 weeks

Reported change in blood pressure is average change per week, over 4 weeks

Systolic blood pressure

Group	Value	95% CI
Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	-0.51	-1.40 – 0.38
Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice	-0.55	-1.42 – 0.31

Diastolic blood pressure

Group	Value	95% CI
Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	-0.24	-0.85 – 0.38
Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice	-0.47	-1.07 – 0.13

Urinary Albumin to Creatinine Ratio at Baseline and at 4 Weeks (End of Study) Secondary · 4 weeks

Baseline

Group	Value	95% CI
Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	2.2	0.4 – 5.4
Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice	3.9	1.7 – 9.0

4 weeks (end of study)

Group	Value	95% CI
Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	2.5	0.2 – 5.8
Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice	3.6	0.9 – 13.9

Change in Serum Nitric Oxide Metabolite Levels From Baseline to 4 Weeks (End of the Study) Secondary · 4 weeks

Group	Value	95% CI
Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	20.08	6.60 – 30.68
Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice	0.97	-1.83 – 3.71

Serum Asymmetric Dimethylarginine at Baseline and at 4 Weeks (End of the Study) Secondary · 4 weeks

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) which is a recognized marker of endothelial dysfunction and inhibitor of nitric oxide

Baseline ADMA level

Group	Value	95% CI
Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	0.47	± 0.08
Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice	0.47	± 0.09

4 week ADMA level (end of study)

Group	Value	95% CI
Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	0.50	± 0.10
Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice	0.52	± 0.11

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: 4 weeks (from enrollment to end of follow up). Reporting threshold: 0%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice

Serious: 0/29 (0%)

Deaths: 0/29

Nitrate-depleted Beetroot Juice

Serious: 0/30 (0%)

Deaths: 0/30

Other adverse events (6 terms — click to expand)

Reaction	System	Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice	Nitrate-depleted Beetroot …
Beet-coloured faeces	Gastrointestinal disorders	—	—
Beeturia	Renal and urinary disorders	—	—
Gastrointestinal symptoms (not serious adverse event)	Gastrointestinal disorders	—	—
Change in bowel habit	Gastrointestinal disorders	—	—
Bloating	Gastrointestinal disorders	—	—
Gastritis	Gastrointestinal disorders	—	—

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05401409 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

People with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) develop high blood pressure and kidney disease. Previous studies have shown that a commonly occurring chemical, nitric oxide (NO), is reduced in ADPKD, and may contribute, in part, to high blood pressure in this condition. Nitrate is found in high concentrations naturally in beetroots, and increases NO. The aim of this study is to determine if beetroot juice reduces blood pressure in hypertensive people with ADPKD.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Efficacy of beetroot juice on reducing blood pressure in hypertensive adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (BEET-PKD): study protocol for a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
   Sagar PS, Munt A, Saravanabavan S, Vahedi FA, et al · · 2023 · cited 2× · PMID 37507763 · DOI 10.1186/s13063-023-07519-2