Beetroot to tackle long Covid

TWENTY people with long Covid will have a daily glass of beetroot juice for a fortnight to see if it improves their muscle strength and fatigue.

The juice is high in nitrates, compounds that break down into nitric oxide in the body, helping relax the blood vessels and improve blood flow — in turn, improving oxygen supply to the muscles. This may help combat fatigue, one of the main symptoms of long Covid. A control group will have a daily drink of the same volume (210ml), but which doesn’t contain nitrates.

During the trial, at the University of Pittsburgh, the participants will also undergo physical therapy three times a week to monitor any change in their symptoms.