Effects of Dietary Nitrate in Women With Secondary Amenorrhea
Indiana University
12 participants
Sep 5, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Excessive exercise, disordered attitudes toward eating, physical and psychological stress, and/or hormonal imbalances may result in cessation of menstruation (secondary amenorrhea). The accompanying lack of estrogen may impair muscle power and oxygen recovery after exercise by reducing nitric oxide levels. The purpose of this study is to determine whether ingestion of beetroot juice containing nitrate, an alternative source of nitric oxide, can help reverse these changes.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Women age 18-44 years old
- Missed >3 consecutive periods in the last 12 months if previously regularly menstruating (average cycle 21-35 d) OR
- Missed >6 consecutive periods in the last 12 month if previously irregularly menstruating (spontaneous menstruation, average cycle <21 or > 35 d)
Exclusion Criteria22
- Unable to provide informed consent
- Currently diagnosed with primary amenorrhea (no history of menstruation by age 15) or oligomenorrhea (menstrual cycle >35 d or <8 cycles per year)
- Currently diagnosed with a chronic illness, including thyroid disease, hyperprolactinemia, Cushing syndrome, and/or poly-cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- History or current clinical diagnosis of an eating disorder
- Currently dieting
- Weight instablility for the past 3 months
- Previously undergone a revascularization procedure involving a vascular graft or stenting of the femoral or popliteal arteries
- Currently at the time of screening, or in the past year, using hormonal contraceptives
- Pregnancy
- Epilepsy
- Current antibiotic use
- Current nicotine user
- Stage II hypertension (resting blood pressure >140/>90)
- Currently taking proton pump inhibitors, antacids, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, or on hormone replacement therapy
- An answer of yes to any of the seven questions on the first page of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) indicating that the participant is not physically ready for exercise without a medical exam. These exclusions include the following:
- If participant's doctor has ever said that he/she has a heart condition and that he/she should only do physical activity recommended by a doctor
- Pain in chest when doing physical activity
- In past month, chest pain when not doing physical activity
- If participant has ever lost balance because of dizziness or has ever lost consciousness
- Muscle, bone, or joint problem that could be made worse by physical activity
- Currently on prescribed drugs for blood pressure or heart condition.
- If the participant knows of any other reason he/she should not do physical activity.
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Interventions
Nitrate-rich beetroot juice
Nitrate-poor beetroot juice
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT07019129