Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
Cardiovasc Res. 2011 Feb 15;89(3):525-32. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvq325. Epub 2010 Oct 11.
Inorganic nitrate from dietary and endogenous sources is emerging as a substrate for in vivo generation of nitric oxide (NO) and other reactive nitrogen oxides. Dietary amounts of nitrate clearly have robust NO-like effects in humans, including blood pressure reduction, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and vasoprotective activity. In animal models, nitrate protects against ischaemia-reperfusion injuries and several other types of cardiovascular disorders. In addition, nitrate most surprisingly decreases whole body oxygen cost during exercise with preserved or even enhanced maximal performance. Oxidative stress and reduced NO bioavailability are critically linked to development of hypertension and other forms of cardiovascular diseases. Mechanistically, a central target for the effects of nitrate and its reaction products seems to be the mitochondrion and modulation of oxidative stress. All in vivo effects of nitrate are achievable with amounts corresponding to a rich intake of vegetables, which are particularly rich in this anion. A theory is now emerging suggesting nitrate as an active component in vegetables contributing to the beneficial health effects of this food group, including protection against cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes.
膳食和内源性的无机硝酸盐正在成为体内生成一氧化氮（NO）和其他活性氮氧化物的底物。膳食中的硝酸盐显然对人体具有强大的类似 NO 的作用，包括降低血压、抑制血小板聚集和血管保护活性。在动物模型中，硝酸盐可预防缺血再灌注损伤和其他几种类型的心血管疾病。此外，硝酸盐在运动中出人意料地降低了全身耗氧量，同时保持甚至增强了最大性能。氧化应激和 NO 生物利用度的降低与高血压和其他形式的心血管疾病的发展密切相关。从机制上讲，硝酸盐及其反应产物的作用的一个中心靶标似乎是线粒体和氧化应激的调节。硝酸盐的所有体内作用都可以通过相当于大量摄入蔬菜的量来实现，蔬菜中这种阴离子特别丰富。现在出现了一种理论，认为硝酸盐是蔬菜中的一种活性成分，有助于这组食物对健康的有益影响，包括预防心血管疾病和 2 型糖尿病。
