Cited by 49Cardiovascular and exercise physiologyExercise and Physiological ResponsesNitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects

Post-exercise hypotension and skeletal muscle oxygenation is regulated by nitrate-reducing activity of oral bacteria

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Clarke, C., Kiernan, M., Willis, J.R., Gallardo-Alfaro, L., Casas-Agustench, P., White, D., Hickson, M., Gabaldon, T. +1 more·2019·Free Radical Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) is a common physiological phenomenon leading to lower blood pressure after acute exercise, but it is not fully understood how this intriguing response occurs. This study investigated whether the nitrate-reducing activity of oral bacteria is a key mechanism to trigger PEH. Following a randomized, double blind and crossover design, twenty-three healthy individuals (15 males/8 females) completed two treadmill trials at moderate intensity. After exercise, participants rinsed their mouth with antibacterial mouthwash to inhibit the activity of oral bacteria or a placebo mouthwash. Blood pressure was measured before, 1h and 2 h after exercise. The microvascular response to a reactive hyperaemia test, as well as blood and salivary samples were taken before and 2 h after exercise to analyse nitrate and nitrite concentrations and the oral microbiome. As expected, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was lower (1 h: -5.2 ± 1.0 mmHg; P < 0.001); 2 h: -3.8 ± 1.1 mmHg, P = 0.005) after exercise compared to baseline in the placebo condition. This was accompanied by an increase of circulatory nitrite 2 h after exercise (2h: 100 ± 13 nM) compared to baseline (59 ± 9 nM; P = 0.013). Additionally, an increase in the peak of the tissue oxygenation index (TOI) during the reactive hyperaemia response was observed after exercise (86.1 ± 0.6%) compared to baseline levels (84.8 ± 0.5%; P = 0.010) in the placebo condition. On the other hand, the SBP-lowering effect of exercise was attenuated by 61% at 1 h in the recovery period, and it was fully attenuated 2 h after exercise with antibacterial mouthwash. This was associated with a lack of changes in circulatory nitrite (P > 0.05), and impaired microvascular response (peak TOI baseline: 85.1 ± 3.1%; peak TOI post-exercise: 84.6 ± 3.2%; P > 0.05). Diversity of oral bacteria did not change after exercise in any treatment. These findings show that nitrite synthesis by oral commensal bacteria is a key mechanism to induce the vascular response to exercise over the first period of recovery thereby promoting lower blood pressure and greater muscle oxygenation.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.07.035

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Authors
Clarke, C., Kiernan, M., Willis, J. R., Gallardo-Alfaro, L., Casas-Agustench, P., White, D., Hickson, M., Gabaldon, T., & Bescos, R.
Affiliations
  • University of Plymouth (GB)
  • Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (ES)
  • Universitat de les Illes Balears (ES)
Venue
Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-11
Volume
143
Pages
252-259
ISSN
0891-5849 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2964637210
Cited by
49
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7
FWCI
6.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Free Radical Biology and Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PEARL (University of Plymouth) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PEARL (University of Plymouth) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBEROBN CB12/03/30038)
  • Plymouth University
  • Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (FPU 15/06147)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
Keywords
post-exercise hypotension, nitrate-reducing bacteria, oral microbiota, nitrite, blood pressure, post-exercise recovery, reactive hyperemia, microvascular response, tissue oxygenation, antibacterial mouthwash, skeletal muscle oxygenation, nitric oxide signaling, vascular function, exercise-induced vasodilation, nitric oxide synthase inhibition, nitric oxide reductase inhibition
MeSH terms
Adult, Bacteria, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Hyperemia, Male, Mouth, Mouthwashes, Nitrates, Saliva, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal, Cross-Over Studies, Post-Exercise Hypotension

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