dietary inorganic nitrate

Dietary inorganic nitrate is a naturally occurring compound found in high concentrations in green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and lettuce) and beetroot. Upon ingestion, inorganic nitrate is absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, enters the systemic circulation, and is actively concentrated in saliva. Commensal facultative anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity reduce salivary nitrate to nitrite via the enterosalivary pathway. Once swallowed, nitrite is further reduced to nitric oxide (NO) and other bioactive nitrogen oxides in the blood and tissues, particularly under hypoxic or acidic conditions. This nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway acts as an alternative, non-enzymatic source of NO, bypassing dysfunctional endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Dietary inorganic nitrate supplementation is investigated for its cardioprotective, vasoprotective, and metabolic benefits, including reducing blood pressure, improving mitochondrial efficiency, mitigating contrast-induced nephropathy, and enhancing myocardial contractility after ischemic injury.

Other names

dietary nitrateinorganic nitratenitrate