Pharmacology and therapeutic role of inorganic nitrite and nitrate in vasodilatation

Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Dec;144(3):303-20. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.06.009. Epub 2014 Jun 30.

Abstract

Nitrite has emerged as an important bioactive molecule that can be biotransformed to nitric oxide (NO) related metabolites in normoxia and reduced to NO under hypoxic and acidic conditions to exert vasodilatory effects and confer a variety of other benefits to the cardiovascular system. Abundant research is currently underway to understand the mechanisms involved and define the role of nitrite in health and disease. In this review we discuss the impact of nitrite and dietary nitrate on vascular function and the potential therapeutic role of nitrite in acute heart failure.

Keywords: Heart failure; Nitrate; Nitric oxide; Nitrite; Vasodilatation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • Diet
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / metabolism
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Nitrates / administration & dosage
  • Nitrates / pharmacology
  • Nitrates / therapeutic use*
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitrites / administration & dosage
  • Nitrites / pharmacology
  • Nitrites / therapeutic use*
  • Phytochemicals / administration & dosage
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Phytochemicals / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasodilation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Nitrates
  • Nitrites
  • Phytochemicals
  • Nitric Oxide