Abstract
BACKGROUND: Considering the role of a healthy diet in preventing atherogenesis, the use of beetroot as a functional food with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-dyslipidemic effects due to its high nitrate content and bioactive compounds is one of the interesting approaches in coronary artery disease (CAD), a common worldwide chronic disease. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that was conducted on 90 male (67.8%) and female (32.2%) chronic patients with CAD for 4 weeks. This secondary analysis investigated the effect of beetroot capsules within three groups on fatty acid profile, total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, malondialdehyde, and myeloperoxidase. RESULTS: In subjects with 4 weeks of beetroot consumption, significant changes in the level of SFAs/PUFAs (-130 μg/mL, p = 0.04), PA/OA (-250 μg/mL, p = 0.02), and MPO (-9.60 U/L, p < 0.01) were established. In beetroot-vitamin C group, docosahexaenoic acid (9.3 μg/mL, p < 0.01), omega 3 (31 μg/mL, p < 0.001), EPA + DHA (10 μg/mL, p < 0.01), SFAs/PUFAs (-370 μg/mL, p < 0.001), PA/OA (-360 μg/mL, p < 0.001), TOS (-1.42 μM, p < 0.01), and MPO (-12.42 U/L, p < 0.001) had notable changes. CONCLUSION: Beetroot capsule consumption had favorable effects on serum omega 3 fatty acids as well as TOS and MPO, the oxidant and atherogenesis factors.