When people take nitrate (from beetroot juice) and vitamin C together, their bodies produce more nitrite in urine and saliva than when they take just nitrate or no nitrate.
Scientific Claim
Co-administration of dietary nitrate and vitamin C significantly increases urinary nitrite and salivary nitrite levels in healthy young adults compared to nitrate-rich beetroot juice alone or nitrate-depleted beetroot juice.
Original Statement
“Urinary nitrite (P=0.002) and salivary nitrite (P=0.001) were significantly higher in the N+VC group compared to the N and ND groups.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study design (randomized crossover trial) supports descriptive claims about observed differences. The abstract uses 'significantly higher' which is appropriate for the statistical result. However, the study is small (n=10) and preliminary, so 'association' is more conservative than 'causes'.
More Accurate Statement
“Co-administration of dietary nitrate and vitamin C is associated with significantly higher urinary nitrite and salivary nitrite levels in healthy young adults compared to nitrate-rich beetroot juice alone or nitrate-depleted beetroot juice.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effects of dietary nitrate and vitamin C co-ingestion on blood pressure and hand-grip strength in young adults.