Dietary Nitrate Intake in Vegetarians and Omnivores

Dietary Intake of Inorganic Nitrate in Vegetarians and Omnivores and Its Impact on Blood Pressure, Resting Metabolic Rate and the Oral Microbiome

Vegetarian diets are commonly associated with lower blood pressure levels. This has been related to greater consumption of inorganic nitrate, since vegetables are the main source of this anion. Dietary nitrate is reduced to nitrite by commensal bacteria in the mouth, which in turn leads to increased circulatory nitrite availability. Nitrite can form nitric oxide by several pathways promoting a reduction in the vascular tone and lower blood pressure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy vegetarians (vegans and ovo-lacto vegetarians) following this dietary pattern for at least a year.
• Health omnivores

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smokers
• Individuals taking any medications or recreational drugs.
• Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia or dental conditions (gingivitis).
• Individuals using mouthwash or tongue scrapes were excluded from this study