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Pathways Linking Oral Bacteria, Nitric Oxide Metabolism, and Health
E Morou-Bermúdez1, J E Torres-Colón1, N S Bermúdez2
1University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, School of Dental Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Journal of Dental Research
|January 27, 2022
Summary
Nitrate-reducing oral bacteria impact nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, affecting cardiometabolic health. Understanding oral nitrate metabolism pathways is key to managing NO levels and improving systemic health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Oral Health
- Cardiometabolic Health and Nitric Oxide Metabolism
Background:
- Oral bacteria's nitrate-reducing capacity is crucial for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, impacting cardiometabolic health.
- Specific oral bacterial consortia linked to cardiometabolic and cognitive health have been identified.
- Chronic mouthwash use correlates with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes, including hypertension and diabetes risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the complex nitrate reduction pathways in oral bacteria, specifically denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA).
- To investigate how these pathways influence oral and systemic nitric oxide (NO) levels.
- To propose a model linking lifestyle, oral microbiome, and NO metabolism to overall health.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on oral bacteria, nitrate metabolism pathways (denitrification, DNRA), and their clinical associations.
- Analysis of environmental drivers (redox potential, nutrient ratios) influencing competing nitrate reduction pathways.
- Development of a novel behavioral and microbial model for nitric oxide metabolism.
Main Results:
- Denitrification produces NO, potentially benefiting NO levels, while DNRA converts nitrite to ammonium, reducing NO availability.
- Oral hygiene practices and dietary nitrate intake can favor denitrifying bacteria, associated with better cardiometabolic health.
- Environmental factors like redox potential and nutrient ratios dictate the predominance of denitrification versus DNRA.
Conclusions:
- The balance between denitrification and DNRA in the oral microbiome significantly impacts systemic NO levels and health.
- Targeting salivary nitrate and nitrite metabolism, potentially through probiotics or lifestyle modifications, offers a promising avenue for health improvement.
- A proposed model integrates lifestyle factors and oral microbial activity to explain NO metabolism's role in systemic health.
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