Inorganic Nitrate Supplementation for Cardiovascular Health
Open accessAbstract
Nitric oxide (NO) is continually produced by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and is essential to the control and effectiveness of the cardiovascular system. However, there is a substantial reduction in NOS activity with aging that can lead to the development of hypertension and other cardiovascular complications. Fortunately, NO can also be produced by the sequential reduction of inorganic nitrate to nitrite and then to NO. Nitric oxide from inorganic nitrate supplementation has been found to have the same cardioprotective benefits of NO produced by NOS. Moreover, it can effectively compensate for declining NOS activity due to aging or NOS inhibition by oxidative stress, hypoxia, or other factors. This review covers some of the major cardiovascular regulatory actions of NO and presents evidence that NO from inorganic nitrate supplementation can provide (1) compensation when NOS activity is inadequate, and (2) cardioprotective benefits beyond that provided by a healthy NOS system. In addition, it discusses how to obtain a safe and efficacious range of inorganic nitrate.
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Beetroot is one of the richest dietary sources of inorganic nitrate (250-400 mg/100 g fresh weight), depending on agronomic and storage conditions.
“Depending on agronomic and storage conditions, it is also one of the richest dietary sources of inorganic nitrate (250–400 mg/100 g fresh weight) [80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [84]
Clinical studies confirm that nitrate supplementation improves endothelial function, reduces blood pressure, and enhances tissue perfusion; there is also potential for benefits in cardiovascular and pregnancy-related conditions.
“Clinical studies confirm that nitrate supplementation improves endothelial function, reduces blood pressure, and enhances tissue perfusion. There is also potential for benefits in cardiovascular and pregnancy-related conditions [83,84,85].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [84]
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The effects of nitrate on the oral microbiome: a systematic review investigating prebiotic potential
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- Authors
- Ivy, J. L.
- Affiliations
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Corresponding author
- Ivy, John L.
- ORCID
- Ivy, John L.
- Venue
- Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal
- Published
- 2019-07-01
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 200
- ISSN
- 1947-6094 (ISSN-L)
- 1947-6108
- PMC
- PMC6822652
- OpenAlex
- W3005323710
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3
- FWCI
- 1.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Nitric Oxide and Endothelin Effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Disease Prevention
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Sodium Intake and Health
- Keywords
- inorganic nitrate supplementation, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, cardiovascular health, cardioprotection, aging, hypertension, oxidative stress, hypoxia, nitrite, dietary nitrate
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cardiovascular System, Health Status, Humans, Nitrates, Nitric Oxide, Risk Factors, Treatment Outcome, Nitric Oxide Synthase, Dietary Supplements
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