The effects of inorganic nitrate and inulin co-ingestion on circulating metabolites and blood pressure in young adults: a pilot double-blind randomised crossover trial

Dietary patterns enriched in fermentable fibre (such as inulin) and inorganic nitrate are linked to cardiovascular benefits, possibly mediated by gut microbiota-derived bioactive compounds including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and nitric oxide (NO). However, the potential synergistic effects rem...

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Main Authors: Jessica Virgili, Gwenaelle Le Gall, Anni Vanhatalo, Bert Bond, David Vauzour, Luciana Torquati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Gut Microbiome
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S263228972510008X/type/journal_article
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Summary:Dietary patterns enriched in fermentable fibre (such as inulin) and inorganic nitrate are linked to cardiovascular benefits, possibly mediated by gut microbiota-derived bioactive compounds including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and nitric oxide (NO). However, the potential synergistic effects remain unclear. We conducted a randomised, double-blind, crossover study to investigate the acute effects of inulin (15 g; INU), nitrate (400 mg; NO3−), and their combination (INU + NO3−) on plasma nitrate and nitrite levels, SCFAs, and blood pressure (BP) in 20 adults. Plasma nitrate and nitrite were significantly elevated following INU + NO3− and NO3− compared to INU (p < 0.001). Plasma SCFAs were increased after INU + NO3− and INU, but the incremental AUC was not statistically significant, likely due to large inter-individual variability. No significant main effects were observed on BP; however, inverse correlations were identified between peak plasma nitrite and diastolic BP (rs = −0.61, p = 0.004) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (rs = −0.59, p = 0.005) following INU + NO3−. Peak nitrate concentrations were inversely correlated with diastolic BP following NO3− (rs = −0.47, p = 0.004). Co-supplementation with inulin and nitrate did not enhance plasma nitrate/nitrite or BP beyond nitrate alone but modulated SCFA profiles, suggesting potential interactions between fibre fermentation and nitrate metabolism for cardiovascular health.
ISSN:2632-2897