A nitrate-rich diet has many cardiovascular benefits, but the mechanism behind this is unclear. We hypothesized that the ingestion of nitrate augments nitrate to nitrite reduction, leading to nitric oxide (NO) production, which may suppress platelet reactivity. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study involving healthy individuals, ingestion of nitrate augmented saliva and plasma nitrite/nitrate concentration and enhanced platelet NO production disproportionately in women compared with men. The response of elevated platelet NO in men was increased platelet reactivity and the response of markedly elevated platelet NO in women slightly inhibited platelet reactivity.
Keywords: ADP, adenosine diphosphate; DAF-FM, 4-amino-5-methylamino-2ʹ, 7ʹ-difluorofluorescein diacetate; LTA, light transmission aggregometry; NO, nitric oxide; PAR1, protease-activated receptor 1; PKG, protein kinase G; VASP, vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein; aggregation; nitrate; nitric oxide; nitrite; plant; platelet; women.
© 2022 The Authors.