RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Pilot Study of Nitrate-rich Beetroot Juice Supplementation in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)

This research explores if drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice can improve exercise capacity in people with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a serious lung condition that causes scarring and breathlessness. Previous research showed that exercise training helped IPF patients, but surprisingly, it also led to a drop in their blood nitrite levels, which are usually expected to increase. Since nitrite is linked to exercise performance and nitrate (found in beetroot juice) can turn into nitrite in the body, this study investigates if beetroot juice could help. Participants will drink either beetroot juice or a placebo for three days, then switch, to see if it makes a difference to their exercise ability and blood markers, helping us understand how it might work for IPF patients.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

Start

13 Feb 2026

Estimated completion

03 Jun 2027

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Interstitial Lung Disease

What is this study about?

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, or IPF, is a long-term lung condition where your lungs become scarred and stiff. This scarring makes it harder to breathe and can limit your ability to exercise. We know that exercise is generally good for health, and it can help people with IPF feel better and improve their quality of life. However, we're still learning the best ways to help people with IPF exercise and manage their symptoms.

Our previous research found something interesting: while exercise helped people with IPF, it also caused a dip in something called 'nitrite' in their blood. In healthy people, and those with other lung conditions, exercise usually increases nitrite levels, and higher nitrite is often linked to better exercise ability. Since nitrate, which is found in foods like beetroot, can be turned into nitrite in the body, this observation made us think that people with IPF might especially benefit from nitrate supplements, such as nitrate-rich beetroot juice.

This study will investigate this idea further. We want to see if drinking nitrate-rich beetroot juice can directly help people with IPF exercise more easily and if it changes their blood nitrite levels. We will compare it to a drink that looks and tastes the same but doesn't have the nitrates (a placebo) to make sure any effects we see are genuinely from the beetroot juice. This will help us understand if this simple supplement could be a helpful addition for managing IPF symptoms.

Key takeaways

Studies beetroot juice for lung scarring (IPF).
Aims to improve exercise in IPF patients.
Compares beetroot juice to a dummy drink (placebo).
Participants switch between juice and placebo.
Will measure exercise ability and blood markers.
Hopes to find new ways to help IPF patients.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for people aged 18 to 85 who have been diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) by a specialist and whose breathing difficulties are mild to moderate. You should also have been in a stable condition for at least three months before joining.

Some things might mean you can't join the study. These include if you have cancer or an active infection, if you currently smoke or vape, or if you need to use oxygen therapy regularly. We also can't include you if you've recently been in a lung rehabilitation programme, have other significant heart or lung conditions, or are taking certain medications that affect nitrates.

We are also looking for a small group of healthy people, similar in age and gender to the IPF patients, to help us compare some measurements, but they won't be doing the main exercise part of the study or drinking the juice.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 85 years old?
Have you been diagnosed with IPF by a specialist?
Is your breathlessness mild to moderate (like you get a bit breathless walking uphill or hurrying on flat ground, but not just from washing or dressing)?
Have you been feeling stable for the last 3 months, without major changes to your condition?
Are you NOT currently smoking or vaping?
Do you NOT use regular oxygen therapy for breathing?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll be asked to visit the study site on a few occasions. During these visits, we'll measure your exercise ability using a special exercise bike test and take some blood samples to check certain markers. You'll be given either nitrate-rich beetroot juice or a plain-tasting drink (placebo) to drink twice a day for three days. You won't know which one you're getting. After those three days, you'll come in for another exercise test. Then, after at least a week, there will be a 'wash-out' period where you don't take anything. After that, you'll switch over to the other drink (so if you had the beetroot juice first, you'll have the placebo second, and vice-versa) for another three days, followed by another exercise test. The total time you'll be actively involved with the study will be a few weeks, with breaks in between.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may or may not directly benefit you. We hope to better understand how nitrate-rich beetroot juice affects exercise ability and blood markers in people with IPF, which could help future patients. There are some minor risks associated with the study, such as the usual discomfort from blood tests or slight breathlessness during the exercise tests. You can stop taking part in the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

University Hospital Southampton
Verified postcode
Southampton, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)?

IPF is a condition where lung tissue becomes scarred over time, making it harder to breathe and reducing lung function.

What is nitrate-rich beetroot juice?

It's a natural juice from beetroots that contains high levels of nitrate, a substance that can be converted in your body into important compounds like nitrite and nitric oxide.

Why beetroot juice?

Earlier research suggested that people with IPF had unexpected drops in blood nitrite during exercise. Since beetroot juice is rich in nitrate, which turns into nitrite, we're exploring if it can help improve exercise capacity.

What does a 'placebo' mean in this study?

A placebo is a drink that looks and tastes like the beetroot juice but doesn't contain the active ingredient (nitrate). This helps us fairly compare the effects of the beetroot juice.

Will I know if I'm getting the beetroot juice or the placebo?

No, this is a 'double-blind' study, meaning neither you nor the research team will know who is getting which drink until after the study is complete. This helps keep the results unbiased.

How to find out more

Tim JM Wallis, MD, PhD

tim.wallis@uhs.nhs.uk 023 8120 4479 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.