title: High-nitrate vegetable diet increases plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations and reduces blood pressure in healthy women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiological studies suggest that green leafy vegetables, which are high in dietary nitrate, are protective against CVD such as stroke. High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for stroke and inorganic nitrate has been shown to reduce BP. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that diets containing high-nitrate (HN) vegetables would increase plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations and reduce BP in healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, crossover trial, where participants received HN vegetables (HN diet) or avoided HN vegetables (Control diet) for 1 week. Before and after each intervention, resting BP and plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations were measured.
  
  
  METHODS
  University of Exeter, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen healthy women (mean age 20 (sd 2) years; mean BMI 22·5 (sd 3·8) kg/m2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HN diet significantly increased plasma nitrate concentration (before HN diet: mean 24·4 (sd 5·6) µmol/l; after HN diet: mean 61·0 (sd 44·1) µmol/l, P<0·05) and plasma nitrite concentration (before HN diet: mean 98 (sd 91) nmol/l; after HN diet: mean 185 (sd 34) nmol/l, P<0·05). No significant change in plasma nitrate or nitrite concentration was observed after the Control diet. The HN diet significantly reduced resting systolic BP (before HN diet: mean 107 (sd 9) mmHg; after HN diet: mean 103 (sd 6) mmHg, P<0·05). No significant change in systolic BP was observed after the Control diet (before Control diet: mean 106 (sd 8) mmHg; after Control diet: mean 106 (sd 8) mmHg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumption of HN vegetables significantly increased plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations and reduced BP in normotensive women.
authors: Sport and Health Sciences,College of Life and Environmental Sciences,St Luke's Campus,University of Exeter,Heavitree Road,Exeter EX1 2LU,UK.
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Ashworth
authors: Sport and Health Sciences,College of Life and Environmental Sciences,St Luke's Campus,University of Exeter,Heavitree Road,Exeter EX1 2LU,UK.
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Mitchell
authors: Sport and Health Sciences,College of Life and Environmental Sciences,St Luke's Campus,University of Exeter,Heavitree Road,Exeter EX1 2LU,UK.
authors: Jamie R
authors: JR
authors: Blackwell
authors: Sport and Health Sciences,College of Life and Environmental Sciences,St Luke's Campus,University of Exeter,Heavitree Road,Exeter EX1 2LU,UK.
authors: Anni
authors: A
authors: Vanhatalo
authors: Sport and Health Sciences,College of Life and Environmental Sciences,St Luke's Campus,University of Exeter,Heavitree Road,Exeter EX1 2LU,UK.
authors: Andrew M
authors: AM
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites
keywords: Blood pressure; Nitrate; Nitrite; Vegetables