title: Dietary nitrite and nitrate: a review of potential mechanisms of cardiovascular benefits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the last decade, a growing scientific and medical interest has emerged toward cardiovascular effects of dietary nitrite and nitrate; however, many questions concerning their mode of action(s) remain unanswered. In this review, we focus on multiple mechanisms that might account for potential cardiovascular beneficial effects of dietary nitrite and nitrate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Beneficial changes to cardiovascular health from dietary nitrite and nitrate might result from several mechanism(s) including their reduction into nitric oxide, improvement in endothelial function, vascular relaxation, and/or inhibition of the platelet aggregation. From recently obtained evidence, it appears that the longstanding concerns about the toxicity of oral nitrite or nitrate are overstated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dietary nitrite and nitrate may have cardiovascular protective effects in both healthy individuals and also those with cardiovascular disease conditions. A role for nitrite and nitrate in nitric oxide biosynthesis and/or in improving nitric oxide bioavailability may eventually provide a rationale for using dietary nitrite and nitrate supplementation in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Medicine Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machha
authors.forename: Alan N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Schechter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009566:Nitrates / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide