Changes in Blood Parameters and Blood Flow Subsequent to a Short-Term Raw Juice Diet

ABSTRACT

Dietary nitrate supplementation from green leafy vegetables and beetroot is involved in the ‘nitratenitrite- nitric oxide (NO) pathway’ and is reported to have important vascular impacts. This study evaluated the blood parameters and blood flow change subsequent to a raw juice diet program. The 28 subjects who voluntarily participated in the raw juice diet program at Sahmyook University were instructed to drink the juice composed of fruits and vegetables instead of partaking the usual meal, at a scheduled time daily. The study was approved by the research ethics council of the Sahmyook University (SYUIRB 2014-043). Evaluation of the participants after the required duration revealed decreased levels of soft lean mass (P＜0.05), skeletal muscle mass (P＜0.001), body fat mass (P＜0.001), body mass index (P＜0.001) and circulating levels of total cholesterol (P＜0.001), triglycerides (P＜0.05), HDL-cholesterol (P＜0.01), LDL-cholesterol (P＜0.01), and blood urea nitrogen (P＜0.001). Conversely, circulating levels of creatinine (P＜0.001), hemoglobin (P＜0.001), and hematocrit (P＜0.01) were increased after the intervention. The blood flow levels were also increased after the program (P＜0.001). Our results indicate that a short-term raw juice diet contributes to the improvement of vascular blood flow and blood lipid parameters, and decreases the lean muscle mass related to dehydration.