Key result
Short-term oral nitrite reduces arterial stiffness ~23% and lowers SBP in sedentary rats.
Why the study?
Physical training and nitrite intake increase nitric oxide to regulate blood pressure, but their combined and individual effects on blood pressure and arterial stiffness required examination.
Does short-term oral nitrite administration and aerobic exercise training reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness in Wistar rats?
RCT (n=39)
Simple randomization
No
Does short-term oral nitrite administration and aerobic exercise training reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness in Wistar rats?
Mean Difference: -12.46
p-value: p=<0.001
Short-term oral nitrite administration and aerobic exercise training independently improve arterial stiffness and reduce systolic blood pressure in Wistar rats, suggesting potential alternative strategies for hypertension management.
Short-term nitrite shows no clinical role yet; leaves open translation of stiffness reduction from rats to humans.
Background Nitric Oxide (NO) plays an important role in blood pressure (BP) regulation, acting directly on peripheral vascular resistance through vasodilation. Physical training (via eNOS/NO) and intake of nitrite have been considered major stimuli to increase NO. Objective We examined the effects of oral nitrite administration and aerobic exercise training on BP and arterial stiffness in Wistar rats. Methods Thirty-nine (39) young male Wistar rats were divided into the following groups (n = 9 or 10 per group): Sedentary-Control (SC), Sedentary-Nitrite (SN), Trained-Control (TC), and Trained-Nitrite (TN). They were submitted to aerobic physical training on treadmills for 8 weeks (50-60% of physical capacity, 1h/day, 5 days/week) or kept sedentary. In the last 6 days of training, oral nitrite was administered (15 mg/Kg by gavage). BP, arterial stiffness, and plasma and tissue nitrite concentrations were assessed after the training and oral nitrite administration period. The significant level was defined as p < 0.05. Results Oral administration of nitrite was effective in reducing arterial stiffness values (TN, -23%; and SN, -15%). Both groups that had only one type of intervention showed lower systolic BP compared with control (TC vs. SC, -14.23; and SN vs. SC, - 12.46). Conclusion We conclude that short-term oral administration for 6 days and an aerobic physical training program promote several hemodynamic benefits in male Wistar rats, such as improvements in arterial stiffness and BP. These responses suggest that physical training and sodium nitrite supplementation can be alternatives for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
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Souza et al. (2024) conducted an RCT in Normotensive (with slightly elevated baseline blood pressure) (n=39). Oral sodium nitrite and/or aerobic exercise training vs. Vehicle (water) and/or sedentary behavior was evaluated on Systolic blood pressure (Sedentary-Nitrite vs Sedentary-Control) (MD -12.46 mmHg, p=<0.001). Short-term oral administration of nitrite for 6 days significantly reduced arterial stiffness by up to 23% and lowered systolic blood pressure by 12.46 mmHg in sedentary Wistar rats compared to controls.
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