Home Ingredients Betalains (Beetroot Pigments)
Athletic Performance

Betalains (Beetroot Pigments)

Beta vulgaris (beetroot, the main source)
Evidence Level
Limited
5 Clinical Trials
4 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Betalains are the red-violet (betacyanin) and yellow-orange (betaxanthin) pigments of beets, prickly pear and red dragon fruit. They are separate from beetroot's nitrate, which a review of betanin names as the main source of red beet's possible blood pressure lowering. A betalain-rich beetroot concentrate, described as nitrate-free in two of the papers, was tested in four small crossover trials in athletes: running time trials were faster after about a week of 100 mg a day, cyclists produced marginally more power, and a single dose did not improve running economy or VO2max. FutureCeuticals funded two of these trials, and a supplement brand donated the products for a third. Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers did not change in cyclists. Betanin is poorly absorbed, and red urine (beeturia) and beetroot's high oxalate content are practical points.

Studied Dose 100 mg a day of a betalain-rich beetroot concentrate for 6 to 7 days, with 50 mg before testing in two trials (one brand listed 12.5 mg betalains per 50 mg capsule), or a single 100 mg dose. Other human work used foods: 24 g a day of dragon fruit powder (about 33 mg betalains) for 14 days.
Active Compound Betacyanins (red-violet), chiefly betanin (betanidin-5-O-β-glucoside) and its epimer, and yellow-orange betaxanthins.

Benefits

Running and cycling performance with a betalain concentrate

Four small crossover trials tested a betalain-rich beetroot concentrate. Triathletes ran 10 km faster (49.5 vs 50.8 minutes) after 6 days of 100 mg a day, and runners on the same dose ran 5 km faster (23.0 vs 23.6 minutes). Cyclists averaged marginally more power (231.6 vs 225.3 W, p=0.050) with no rise in blood nitric oxide markers. A single dose did not improve running economy or VO2max. FutureCeuticals funded two of the trials.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 4

Artery lining function in a dragon fruit powder trial

In 19 young healthy adults, 14 days of whole dragon fruit powder (33 mg betalains) raised flow-mediated dilation by about 1.3 percentage points versus a nutrient-matched placebo; blood pressure did not change. Other fruit compounds may contribute. A pilot study of betalain-rich extracts in 48 men with coronary artery disease reported lower homocysteine, LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, but its abstract does not show a placebo comparison.

Supported by Trial 3

Inflammatory markers unchanged in betalain trials

Betalains suppress NF-kB signaling and inflammatory cytokines in cell and animal studies, but this has not been shown in people. In 28 cyclists the 100 mg concentrate did not change IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 or TNF-alpha. Two beetroot juice trials after hard exercise found no group difference in C-reactive protein or creatine kinase, although one found less muscle pain than with nitrate alone or placebo.

Supported by Trial 1, Trial 2

Antioxidant activity, mostly measured in the test tube

Betanin scavenges reactive oxygen species in laboratory tests. In 18 healthy adults, 500 g a day of betalain-rich cactus pear pulp for 2 weeks lowered several markers of oxidative damage, while 150 mg a day of vitamin C did not; that was whole fruit with no placebo. The 100 mg concentrate did not change oxidative stress markers in 28 cyclists, and betanin was not detected in blood after 250 mL of beetroot juice.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Direct radical scavenging

Betalains are nitrogen-containing pigments, and betanin scavenges reactive oxygen species in laboratory tests. Because betanin is poorly absorbed (it was not detected in blood after beetroot juice, and under 1 percent of an oral dose appears in urine), how much of this happens in the body is unknown.

2

Nrf2 signaling and phase II enzymes

In laboratory studies betanin acts on gene regulation partly through Nrf2 signaling and may induce phase II enzymes and antioxidant defenses. This has not been measured in people taking betalain supplements.

3

NF-κB inhibition and anti-inflammatory cytokines

In cell and animal studies, betalains suppress NF-kB signaling and lower TNF-alpha, IL-6, COX-2 and iNOS. Human trials of a betalain concentrate have not shown a fall in inflammatory markers, so the pathway has not been demonstrated in people.

4

Nitrate, not betalains, behind beetroot's blood pressure effect

A review of betanin concludes that red beet's possible blood pressure lowering comes mainly from dietary nitrate rather than from betanin itself. In cyclists, a betalain concentrate did not raise blood nitric oxide metabolites, so results from nitrate-rich beetroot juice should not be credited to the pigments.

5

DNA protection (preclinical)

Betanin may help prevent LDL oxidation and DNA damage in laboratory work. No human trial has measured DNA damage after betalain intake, so what this means in people is unknown.

Clinical trials

1
Betalain Concentrate in Triathletes (RCT)
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind crossover: 100 mg a day of a betalain-rich beetroot concentrate described as free of sugars and nitrates, or placebo, for 6 days, then 50 mg 120 minutes before testing. The abstract does not state funding. (Montenegro et al. 2017, Appl Physiol Nutr Metab)

22 competitive triathletes (9 men, 13 women, mean age 38).

The 10 km running time trial after 40 minutes of cycling was faster on the concentrate (49.5 vs 50.8 minutes, p=0.03), and a 5 km time trial 24 hours later was faster (23.2 vs 23.9 minutes, p=0.003), in 17 of 22 participants. Creatine kinase and next-day fatigue rose less. Heart rate and perceived exertion were unchanged.

2
Betalain Concentrate in Cyclists (RCT)
PubMed

Randomized, counterbalanced crossover: 100 mg a day of a betalain-rich beetroot concentrate or placebo for 7 days, with a 1-week washout. Funded by a contract from FutureCeuticals. (Mumford et al. 2018, Eur J Appl Physiol)

28 trained male cyclists who completed a 30-minute cycling time trial on day 7 of each condition.

Average absolute power was marginally higher on the concentrate (231.6 vs 225.3 W, p=0.050), a difference of under 3 percent, and efficiency improved over the final 5 minutes. Relative power, distance covered, lactate, glucose, inflammatory markers and oxidative stress markers did not differ. Plasma nitric oxide metabolites did not rise, which is why this result is read as a pigment effect rather than a nitrate effect.

3
Betalain Dragon Fruit and Artery Function (RCT)
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover: 24 g a day of whole dragon fruit powder (33 mg betalains) or a nutrient-matched placebo for 14 days. Whole fruit, not an isolated betalain, so it does not support a betalain category on this page. (Cheok et al. 2022, Am J Clin Nutr)

19 young, healthy, nonsmoking men and women; 18 completed.

Flow-mediated dilation rose against placebo at 2, 3 and 4 hours after a dose (+0.8, +1.0 and +1.3 percentage points) and was about 1.3 points higher at 14 days. Pulse-wave velocity fell at 3 hours and augmentation index improved at 14 days. Blood pressure did not change at any time point.

4
Betalain Concentrate in Competitive Runners (RCT)
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind crossover: 100 mg a day of a betalain-rich beetroot concentrate (Racerunner, FutureCeuticals; 12.5 mg betalains per 50 mg capsule) or an oat fiber control capsule for 6 days, then 50 mg before testing. Funded by VDF FutureCeuticals. (Van Hoorebeke et al. 2016, Sports (Basel))

13 competitive male runners, mean age 25.

During 30 minutes of steady running, heart rate was 3 percent lower, perceived exertion 15 percent lower and blood lactate 14 percent lower on the concentrate (p=0.05). The following 5 km time trial was faster (23.0 vs 23.6 minutes, p=0.04), faster in 10 of 13 runners. Lactate dehydrogenase rose less, while soreness and fatigue ratings did not differ.

5
Single Dose of Betalain Concentrate in Recreational Runners (RCT)
PubMed

Randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled crossover: one 100 mg dose of a freeze-dried beetroot concentrate standardized to 25 percent betalains, or 100 mg dextrose. The paper does not state the product's nitrate content. Primary outcomes were running economy and VO2max, neither of which improved. No funding; the supplement and placebo were donated by Sur Nutrition. (Vitti et al. 2025, Eur J Appl Physiol)

17 male recreational runners, mean age 19.

The main outcomes, running economy and maximal capacity, did not improve, and lactate clearance after the test did not differ. Heart rate was lower at the faster test speed and at its peak, effort ratings were lower at the slower speed, and near-infrared tissue saturation (SmO2) returned faster at 3 to 5 minutes after the test.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Pink or red urine (beeturia). One study notes it is said to affect 10 to 14 percent of people and to be more common with iron deficiency and malabsorption; in its own test of 100 people given 60 mg of beetroot extract, 4 had visibly red urine.
Beetroot is a high-oxalate food: in a study of healthy adults it was classed with spinach and rhubarb as a high-risk food for urinary oxalate. Anyone with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones should ask a doctor before using concentrated beet products.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the trials cited here did not study these groups, so ask a doctor before using a concentrated betalain supplement.

Important Drug interactions

Blood pressure medication: beetroot juice and powder also supply nitrate. In a 4-week trial in adults with high blood pressure, half of them already on medication, nitrate-rich beetroot juice lowered readings compared with placebo, while a 1-week trial in treated patients found no change. A pilot study of betalain-rich extracts in men with coronary artery disease also reported lower blood pressure. If you take blood pressure medication, talk with your doctor and monitor your readings.
Absorption is low: under 1 percent of an oral dose of beetroot pigments is recovered in urine, and betanin was not detected in blood after 250 mL of beetroot juice.

More Athletic Performance Ingredients

Athletic Performance
Creatine Monohydrate
Creatine monohydrate is the form of creatine used in nearly all creatine research. The bod…
Athletic Performance
Creapure® (Creatine Monohydrate — AlzChem)
Creapure is a branded creatine monohydrate that AlzChem makes in its own dedicated plant i…
Athletic Performance
Beta Alanine
Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid found in poultry and meat. Muscle combines it w…
Athletic Performance
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda, NaHCO3) is a household antacid that is also used as a spo…

Explore Other Ingredients

Athletic Performance
L-Citrulline
L-citrulline is an amino acid found in watermelon and sold as plain L-citrulline or as cit…
Cardiovascular
L-Arginine
L-arginine is an amino acid the body uses to make nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessel…
Athletic Performance
Nitrosigine® (Arginine Silicate)
Nitrosigine® (Nutrition 21) is a patented, inositol-stabilized arginine silicate complex e…

Related articles from our blog

📝 Article
Synthetic vs Natural Food Colorants: What the Science and the New Bans Actually Say
Food color has become one of the most talked-about topics in nutrition, and for once it is not just wellness noise. In 2…
August 2, 2026

Frequently asked questions about Betalains (Beetroot Pigments)

What is Betalains used for?

Betalains are the red and yellow pigments in beets, prickly pear and dragon fruit. A betalain-rich beetroot concentrate has been tested for running and cycling performance in small placebo-controlled trials. Betalains are not the nitrate that drives beetroot juice's blood pressure results.

Are betalains the same as beetroot nitrate?

No. Beetroot juice supplies both, but a review of betanin concludes that red beet's blood pressure effect comes mainly from nitrate. In cyclists, a betalain concentrate did not raise blood nitric oxide markers, so beetroot juice results should not be credited to the pigments.

What is the recommended dosage of Betalains?

There is no official dose. The exercise trials used 100 mg a day of a betalain-rich beetroot concentrate for 6 or 7 days, and one used a single 100 mg dose. One brand listed 12.5 mg of betalains per 50 mg capsule. A dragon fruit trial used 24 g a day of powder supplying about 33 mg betalains.

Is Betalains safe, and does it have side effects?

The trials cited here were short, lasting from a single dose to 14 days. Beetroot pigments can turn urine pink or red; one study notes this is said to affect 10 to 14 percent of people, and in its own test 4 of 100 people had visibly red urine. Beetroot is also high in oxalate, so anyone with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones should ask a doctor first.

What is Betalains?

Betalains are the red-violet (betacyanin) and yellow-orange (betaxanthin) pigments of beets, prickly pear and red dragon fruit. They are separate from beetroot's nitrate, which a review of betanin names as the main source of red beet's possible blood pressure lowering.

Does Betalains interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Blood pressure medication: beetroot juice and powder also supply nitrate. In a 4-week trial in adults with high blood pressure, half of them already on medication, nitrate-rich beetroot juice lowered readings compared with placebo, while a 1-week trial in treated patients found n… If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Betalains?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Betalains as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 5 study summaries and 16 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(16 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Clifford T, Howatson G, West DJ, Stevenson EJ. Beetroot juice is more beneficial than sodium nitrate for attenuating muscle pain after strenuous eccentric-bias exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017;42(11):1185-1191. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0238.PubMedUsed to support: Thirty recreationally active men were randomized in three groups of ten to beetroot juice, a nitrate-matched sodium nitrate drink, or an isocaloric placebo, taken immediately and at 24 and 48 hours after 100 drop jumps. Pressure-pain threshold recovered better with beetroot juice than with either comparator: 104 percent of baseline at 72 hours versus 94 percent after sodium nitrate and 91 percent after placebo (P=0.043). Maximal voluntary contraction, countermovement jump and creatine kinase showed no group differences, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was not raised by the exercise at all. Both drinks raised serum nitric oxide similarly, and the authors concluded that any pain-relieving effect was likely due to compounds in beetroot juice other than nitrate, or to interactions between them.
  2. Tesoriere L, Butera D, Pintaudi AM, Allegra M, Livrea MA. Supplementation with cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) fruit decreases oxidative stress in healthy humans: a comparative study with vitamin C. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;80(2):391-5. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/80.2.391.PubMedUsed to support: In a randomized crossover study, 18 healthy volunteers ate 250 g of betalain-rich cactus pear pulp twice daily for two weeks, which lowered 8-epi-PGF2alpha by about 30 percent, malondialdehyde by about 75 percent and LDL hydroperoxides by nearly 50 percent, and improved the glutathione redox ratio. The comparator, 75 mg of vitamin C twice daily, did not significantly change any oxidative stress marker. This is whole fruit rather than an isolated pigment, so the betalains are inferred as the active rather than proven so.
  3. Clifford T, Constantinou CM, Keane KM, West DJ, Howatson G, Stevenson EJ. The plasma bioavailability of nitrate and betanin from Beta vulgaris rubra in humans. Eur J Nutr. 2017;56(3):1245-1254. doi: 10.1007/s00394-016-1173-5.PubMedUsed to support: In a randomized crossover study, 10 healthy men consumed 250 mL of beetroot juice containing about 194 mg betanin or 300 g of whole beetroot containing about 66 mg, and betanin could not be detected in plasma at any of the six sampling points over 8 hours. Plasma nitrate and nitrite rose for 8 hours after the juice and 5 hours after whole beetroot. Beetroot raises nitric oxide availability, but the pigment itself is very poorly absorbed into the blood.
  4. Montenegro CF, Kwong DA, Minow ZA, Davis BA, Lozada CF, Casazza GA. Betalain-rich concentrate supplementation improves exercise performance and recovery in competitive triathletes. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017;42(2):166-172. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0452.PubMedUsed to support: In 22 competitive triathletes (9 men, 13 women, mean age 38) taking 100 mg a day of a betalain-rich beetroot concentrate described as containing no sugars or nitrates for 6 days, the 10 km running time trial was faster than on placebo (49.5 vs 50.8 minutes, p=0.03) and a 5 km time trial 24 hours later was faster (23.2 vs 23.9 minutes, p=0.003), in 17 of 22 participants. Creatine kinase and next-day subjective fatigue rose less, while heart rate and perceived exertion were unchanged.
  5. Clifford T, Allerton DM, Brown MA, Harper L, Horsburgh S, Keane KM, Stevenson EJ, Howatson G. Minimal muscle damage after a marathon and no influence of beetroot juice on inflammation and recovery. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2017;42(3):263-270. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2016-0525.PubMedUsed to support: In 34 experienced marathon runners given beetroot juice or an isocaloric placebo for three days after a marathon, maximal voluntary contraction and countermovement jump fell after the race with no difference between groups, muscle soreness had returned to baseline by day 2 in both groups, and cytokines, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase and C-reactive protein showed no benefit from the juice. The authors concluded beetroot juice did not attenuate inflammation or reduce muscle damage, noting that most of these markers were not markedly raised by the marathon in the first place.
  6. Van Hoorebeke JS, Trias CO, Davis BA, Lozada CF, Casazza GA. Betalain-Rich Concentrate Supplementation Improves Exercise Performance in Competitive Runners. Sports (Basel). 2016;4(3):40. doi: 10.3390/sports4030040.PubMedUsed to support: In 13 competitive male runners taking 100 mg a day of a betalain-rich concentrate (Racerunner, FutureCeuticals) or an oat fiber control capsule for 6 days in a randomized double-blind crossover, steady-state running produced a 3 percent lower heart rate, a 15 percent lower rating of perceived exertion and a 14 percent lower blood lactate (p=0.05), and the following 5 km time trial was faster (23.0 vs 23.6 minutes, p=0.04 in the full text), faster in 10 of 13 runners. Lactate dehydrogenase rose less, while muscle soreness and fatigue ratings did not differ. Financial support came from VDF FutureCeuticals.
  7. Mumford PW, Kephart WC, Romero MA, Haun CT, Mobley CB, Osburn SC, Healy JC, Moore AN, Pascoe DD, Ruffin WC, Beck DT, Martin JS, Roberts MD, Young KC. Effect of 1-week betalain-rich beetroot concentrate supplementation on cycling performance and select physiological parameters. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2018;118(11):2465-2476. doi: 10.1007/s00421-018-3973-1.PubMedUsed to support: In 28 trained male cyclists taking 100 mg a day of a betalain-rich beetroot concentrate for 7 days in a crossover design, average absolute power in a 30-minute time trial was marginally higher than on placebo (231.6 vs 225.3 W, p=0.050, d=0.02) and efficiency improved over the final 5 minutes. Average relative power, distance, blood pH, lactate, glucose, NOx and inflammatory markers did not differ, and the authors report no change in oxidative stress markers. The study was funded by a contract from FutureCeuticals.
  8. Rahimi P, Mesbah-Namin SA, Ostadrahimi A, Abedimanesh S, Separham A, Asghary Jafarabadi M. Effects of betalains on atherogenic risk factors in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Food Funct. 2019;10(12):8286-8297. doi: 10.1039/c9fo02020a.PubMedUsed to support: In 48 men with coronary artery disease, about 50 mg of betalains was given acutely, and a pilot randomized crossover then compared two weeks each of a betacyanin-rich Opuntia stricta supplement, a betalain-rich red beetroot supplement and a placebo. The abstract reports that both supplements lowered homocysteine, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol and lowered blood pressure, with only the homocysteine, LDL and non-HDL cholesterol changes judged clinically meaningful; it does not make clear whether these were compared with placebo. Only 0.13 to 0.93 percent of the dose was recovered in urine.
  9. Cheok A, Xu Y, Zhang Z, Caton PW, Rodriguez-Mateos A. Betalain-rich dragon fruit (pitaya) consumption improves vascular function in men and women: a double-blind, randomized controlled crossover trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022;115(5):1418-1431. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab410.PubMedUsed to support: In 19 young, healthy, nonsmoking adults taking 24 g/day of whole dragon fruit powder providing 33 mg betalains for 14 days (18 completed), flow-mediated dilation improved against placebo at 2 hours (+0.8 percentage points), 3 hours (+1.0) and 4 hours (+1.3, P<0.001), and remained about 1.3 percentage points higher at 14 days. Pulse-wave velocity fell at 3 hours and augmentation index improved at 14 days. Blood pressure did not differ from placebo at any time point. One small crossover trial in young healthy people, using whole fruit powder in an amount the authors describe as dietary, so the betalains are inferred as the active rather than isolated.
  10. Vitti S, Bruneau M Jr, Bisgrove L, Grey S, Levine S, Mattern C, Faller J. Effects of a single dose of a betalain-rich concentrate on determinants of running performance and recovery muscle blood flow: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2025;125(7):1809-1816. doi: 10.1007/s00421-025-05738-w.PubMedUsed to support: In 17 male recreational runners given a single 100 mg dose of a betalain-rich concentrate in a triple-blind placebo-controlled crossover, heart rate was lower at 80 percent of VO2max and at maximum, perceived exertion was lower at 60 percent of VO2max, and muscle oxygenation recovered faster at 3, 4 and 5 minutes after exercise. Running economy, VO2max and post-exercise lactate clearance were not improved, so a single dose changed how hard the effort felt without raising aerobic capacity. The supplement and placebo were donated by a supplement company.
  11. Watts AR, Lennard MS, Mason SL, Tucker GT, Woods HF. Beeturia and the biological fate of beetroot pigments. Pharmacogenetics. 1993;3(6):302-11. doi: 10.1097/00008571-199312000-00004.PubMedUsed to support: States that beeturia, pink or red urine after eating beetroot, is said to occur in 10 to 14 percent of the population and is more common in iron deficiency and malabsorption. In its own test of 100 normal subjects given 60 mg of beetroot extract, 4 produced visibly red urine, and urinary recovery of the two main betacyanins over 8 hours was 0.06 to 0.54 percent and 0.01 to 0.6 percent of the dose.
  12. Kapil V, Khambata RS, Robertson A, Caulfield MJ, Ahluwalia A. Dietary nitrate provides sustained blood pressure lowering in hypertensive patients: a randomized, phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Hypertension. 2015;65(2):320-7. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.04675.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 68 adults with diagnosed high blood pressure, 34 not on medication and 34 already treated. Daily nitrate-rich beetroot juice for 4 weeks lowered clinic blood pressure by 7.7/2.4 mmHg, 24-hour ambulatory pressure by 7.7/5.2 mmHg and home pressure by 8.1/3.8 mmHg compared with placebo. This effect comes from beetroot's nitrate, not from a nitrate-free betalain concentrate. Funded by the British Heart Foundation.
  13. Bondonno CP, Liu AH, Croft KD, Ward NC, Shinde S, Moodley Y, Lundberg JO, Puddey IB, Woodman RJ, Hodgson JM. Absence of an effect of high nitrate intake from beetroot juice on blood pressure in treated hypertensive individuals: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;102(2):368-75. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.101188.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover in 27 men and women whose high blood pressure was already treated: 1 week of nitrate-rich beetroot juice versus nitrate-depleted beetroot juice. Plasma nitrate and nitrite rose about 3-fold, but home and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure did not differ from placebo (null primary outcome). This tests beetroot nitrate, not a betalain concentrate.
  14. Finch AM, Kasidas GP, Rose GA. Urine composition in normal subjects after oral ingestion of oxalate-rich foods. Clin Sci (Lond). 1981;60(4):411-8. doi: 10.1042/cs0600411.PubMedUsed to support: In 9 healthy adults, dietary oxalate accounted for up to two-thirds of urinary oxalate; chocolate, peanuts, beetroot, rhubarb and spinach were considered high-risk foods, and calcium oxalate crystals in chilled urine increased when oxalate-rich foods were eaten.
  15. Esatbeyoglu T, Wagner AE, Schini-Kerth VB, Rimbach G. Betanin--a food colorant with biological activity. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2015;59(1):36-47. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201400484.PubMedUsed to support: Review: betalains are water-soluble, nitrogen-containing pigments divided into red-violet betacyanins and yellow-orange betaxanthins, and betanin (betanidin-5-O-β-glucoside) is the most common betacyanin. Betanin scavenges reactive oxygen species, acts on gene regulation partly through Nrf2 signaling, and may induce phase II enzymes and antioxidant defenses and help prevent LDL oxidation and DNA damage in laboratory work. The review states that red beet's possible blood pressure lowering seems to come mainly from dietary nitrate rather than from betanin itself.
  16. Fatima A, Sultan MT, Awlqadr FH, Noman AM, Raza H, Saleem Z, Anees N, Arab K. Anticancer and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Betalains: A Systematic Review on Preclinical Studies. Food Sci Nutr. 2026;14(7):e72133. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.72133.PubMedUsed to support: Systematic review of 25 cell and animal studies of betalains: anti-inflammatory effects included suppression of NF-κB signaling and lower TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2 and iNOS. These are preclinical findings, and the authors state that well-designed clinical trials are still needed to establish effects in humans.