biostudies-literatureKapil VBritish Heart Foundation93-100https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3605573biostudies-literatureUnknown55Circulating nitrate (NO(3)(-)), derived from dietary sources or endogenous nitric oxide production, is extracted from blood by the salivary glands, accumulates in saliva, and is then reduced to nitrite (NO(2)(-)) by the oral microflora. This process has historically been viewed as harmful, because nitrite can promote formation of potentially carcinogenic N-nitrosamines. More recent research, however, suggests that nitrite can also serve as a precursor for systemic generation of vasodilatory nitric oxide, and exogenous administration of nitrate reduces blood pressure in humans. However, whether oral nitrate-reducing bacteria participate in "setting" blood pressure is unknown. We investigated whether suppression of the oral microflora affects systemic nitrite levels and hence blood pressure Free radical biology & medicinePhysiological role for nitrate-reducing oral bacteria in blood pressure control.PMC3605573SP/08/006/25110Pearl VAhluwalia AKapil VHaydar SMLundberg JOWeitzberg EfalsePhysiological role for nitrate-reducing oral bacteria in blood pressure control.Circulating nitrate (NO(3)(-)), derived from dietary sources or endogenous nitric oxide production, is extracted from blood by the salivary glands, accumulates in saliva, and is then reduced to nitrite (NO(2)(-)) by the oral microflora. This process has historically been viewed as harmful, because nitrite can promote formation of potentially carcinogenic N-nitrosamines. More recent research, however, suggests that nitrite can also serve as a precursor for systemic generation of vasodilatory nitric oxide, and exogenous administration of nitrate reduces blood pressure in humans. However, whether oral nitrate-reducing bacteria participate in "setting" blood pressure is unknown. We investigated whether suppression of the oral microflora affects systemic nitrite levels and hence blood pressure 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z2013 Feb2025-04-25T21:58:15.659Z2019-03-27T01:06:28ZS-EPMC36055732318332410.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2012.11.013