A new clinical study found that a beetroot extract marketed by Sabinsa as Sabeet supported measures of muscular performance in a group of post-menopausal women between the ages of 60 and 85. The findings were published in Nutrients, with Shaheen Majeed, global CEO and managing director of Sabinsa, serving as a co-author.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study recruited 20 women, who were assigned to consume either Sabeet, delivering 548 mg of nitrate per day, or a placebo daily for 12 weeks.

Participants were assessed for muscle quality, strength, rate of force development (RFD), and circulating nitrate and nitrite levels at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks.

Compared to placebo, those in the treatment group saw significant improvements in morphological muscle quality, as measured by ultrasound echo intensity. Those participants also experienced increases in early- and late-phase RFD, indicating better neuromuscular performance and the ability to generate force more rapidly; RFD is a key factor in balance recovery and fall prevention, Sabinsa noted.

“Sabeet was specifically developed to deliver standardized, meaningful levels of dietary nitrate, and this 12-week trial shows that commitment translates into real, tangible benefits for women navigating the muscle health challenges of menopause,” said Shaheen Majeed, global CEO and managing director of Sabinsa. “The improvements observed in both muscle composition and neuromuscular speed, mediated by enhanced nitric oxide bioavailability, speak to the depth of this ingredient’s potential for healthy aging, and are particularly relevant for supporting mobility, balance, and overall functional independence in postmenopausal women. At Sabinsa, we believe that evidence like this is what separates a clinically meaningful ingredient from a commodity.”

The study also confirmed significant increases in circulating nitrate and nitrite levels in the Sabeet group, reinforcing the role of nitrate supplementation in enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability, a key mediator of vascular function, muscle perfusion, and contractile efficiency, Sabinsa reported. These biomarkers were sustained through both the 8-week and 12-week assessments.

The authors of the study confirmed that supplementing with a nitrate-rich beetroot extract offers a practical nutritional strategy to address age-related declines in muscle quality and neuromuscular function. This strategy is particularly important given the prevalence of sarcopenia, reduced mobility, and falls in post-menopausal women.