Acute blood pressure lowering, vasoprotective,and antiplatelet properties of dietary nitrate via bioconversion to nitrite.

Nitrate-rich fruits and vegetables may lower high blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

This study examined the effect of dietary nitrate on blood pressure, vasoprotection, and platelet aggregation. Researchers fed healthy subjects with 500ml of beetroot juice (rich in dietary nitrate). The blood pressure and endothelial function were assessed in all the subjects.

Researchers discovered a reduction blood pressure, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and prevention of acute ischemia-induced endothelial dysfunction after dietary intervention in all the subjects. These effects were not observed when the conversion of nitrate to nitrite was interrupted, so nitrite was proposed to mediate the vasoprotective effects of dietary nitrate in this study. The results of this study show that diets rich in nitrate, such as fruits and vegetables, confer significant protection against the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases.