Nitrate (Potassium Nitrate)

Nitrates derived from the diet (dietary inorganic nitrates) are present in a wide variety of vegetables, but are especially high in spinach and red beetroot.1 Consuming 8-10 servings of vegetables a day is estimated to provide about 1200 mg of dietary nitrate.1 Potassium nitrate is a combination of potassium and nitrate.

Major Health Benefits

Dietary nitrate can be absorbed into our circulation and converted to nitric oxide (NO) in our body.2,3 NO relaxes blood vessels and has been associated with blood pressure reduction by improving blood flow.4,5 Intake of nitrates may also help repair vascular injury and have anti-clotting effect.6,7  Considering these effects, consuming nitrates may benefit heart health.

References

  1. Hord, N.G., Y. Tang, and N.S. Bryan, Food sources of nitrates and nitrites: the physiologic context for potential health benefits. Am J Clin Nutr, 2009. 90(1): p. 1-10.PMID:19439460
  2. van Velzen, A.G., et al., The oral bioavailability of nitrate from nitrate-rich vegetables in humans. Toxicol Lett, 2008. 181(3): p. 177-81.PMID:18723086
  3. Lundberg, J.O., E. Weitzberg, and M.T. Gladwin, The nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway in physiology and therapeutics. Nat Rev Drug Discov, 2008. 7(2): p. 156-67.PMID:18167491
  4. Lin, P.H., et al., Blood Pressure-Lowering Mechanisms of the DASH Dietary Pattern. J Nutr Metab, 2012. 2012: p. 472396.PMID:22496969
  5. Siervo, M., et al., Inorganic nitrate and beetroot juice supplementation reduces blood pressure in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Nutr, 2013. 143(6): p. 818-26.PMID:23596162
  6. Shantsila, E., T. Watson, and G.Y. Lip, Endothelial progenitor cells in cardiovascular disorders. J Am Coll Cardiol, 2007. 49(7): p. 741-52.PMID:17306702
  7. Webb, A.J., et al., Acute blood pressure lowering, vasoprotective, and antiplatelet properties of dietary nitrate via bioconversion to nitrite. Hypertension, 2008. 51(3): p. 784-90.PMID:18250365