Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 10, 2026

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Published on: July 29, 2021

Dietary Sources of Nitrate and Nitrite and Associations with Blood Pressure and Other Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Hayat S Alzahrani¹, Helen B McKenna¹, Ditte A Hobbs¹

¹Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom.

The Journal of Nutrition

|November 26, 2025

Abstract

Background:

Dietary inorganic nitrate from vegetable sources has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) and improve endothelial function. However, the impact of nitrate from different dietary sources on BP remains unclear.

Objectives:

The objective of this study was to determine the relationships between dietary nitrate and nitrite from vegetables (with drinking water) and processed meats with BP and other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers in a representative United Kingdom population.

Methods:

Data from the cross-sectional National Diet and Nutrition Survey years 1‒8, adults (19‒64 y) were used. For the analysis, a database of nitrate and nitrite concentrations in vegetables, drinking water, processed meats, and composite dishes was developed. The population was stratified into quartiles of increasing total and daily nitrate or nitrite intakes from vegetables (including drinking water) and processed meats to determine the relationships with biomarkers of CVD risk (BP, lipid profile, C-reactive protein, anthropometric measures, and glycemic control) using an analysis of covariance.

Results:

This dataset included 3338 adults (59% female) with a mean age of 43 y (standard deviation 12). Across increasing quartiles of vegetable nitrate intake, systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and glycated hemoglobin were lower in Q3 (95‒130 mg/d nitrate) than in Q1 (3‒65 mg/d) (P ≤ 0.038). Participants in Q4 (>131 mg/d) had lower pulse pressure, glucose, C-reactive protein, and total cholesterol concentrations than Q1 (P ≤ 0.05). Similar beneficial associations on SBP and lipid profiles were also evident for dietary nitrite intake from vegetables (P ≤ 0.05). In contrast, there was no difference in CVD risk biomarkers across quartiles of nitrate intake from processed meats, with higher SBP in Q4 (1.8‒3 mg/d nitrate) than Q1 (0.1‒0.8 mg/d) (P = 0.010).

Conclusions:

These data suggest that the dietary source of dietary nitrate and nitrite may play an important role in determining the relationship with BP and other CVD risk biomarkers in a representative United Kingdom population. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT05178875.

Keywords:

blood pressure drinking water inorganic nitrate processed meat vegetables

More Related Videos

Zebrafish as a Model to Assess the Teratogenic Potential of Nitrite

Zebrafish as a Model to Assess the Teratogenic Potential of Nitrite

Published on: February 16, 2016

Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity

Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity

Published on: June 18, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors:

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers

In cardiovascular health, antianginal drugs combat angina pectoris — a condition marked by chest pain owing to diminished blood flow to the heart.
Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow....

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO2

2° Amines to N-Nitrosamines: Reaction with NaNO₂

Secondary amines react with nitrous acid to form N-nitrosamines, as depicted in Figure 1. Nitrous acid, a weak and unstable acid, is formed in situ from an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite and strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, in cold conditions. In the presence of an acid, the nitrous acid gets protonated. The subsequent loss of water results in the formation of the electrophile known as nitrosonium ion.

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Impact of saturated fat absorption on serum low density lipoprotein-cholesterol response to the replacement of saturated with unsaturated fats in healthy males. The 'Reading, Imperial, Surrey, Saturated fat Cholesterol Intervention-2 (RISSCI-2)' non-randomised sequential dietary intervention study.

Atherosclerosis·2026

Association Between Prudent Dietary Pattern and Cardiometabolic Indicators in a Healthy Qatari Population: Evidence from the Qatar Biobank (QBB).

Nutrients·2026

Closing the dietary fibre gap - developing a novel dietary fibre screening tool (SCREEN-IT) for the UK population: validity, reproducibility and usability insights.

European journal of nutrition·2026

Advancing digital nutrition assessment: Development and evaluation of the UK eNutriFFQv2.0.

Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)·2026

"Why isn't fibre mentioned more often?" Conducting focus groups with an ageing population to promote dietary fibre-related awareness and starting the conversation.

Appetite·2026

Association of lipoprotein lipase genetic risk score with cardiometabolic risk indicators in a healthy Qatari population using the Qatar Biobank data.

PloS one·2026

See all related articles