The importance of diet and oral flora for the cardiovascular system and metabolism

Nitric oxide (NO) is a neurotransmitter produced in the body by specific enzymes which, among other things, contributes to a healthy cardiovascular system and regulates metabolism. Reduced production of NO is a contributing factor to the development of atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and age-related diabetes. We have discovered an alternative mode of NO formation where the inorganic ion nitrate (NO3-) is reduced to NO. Nitrate is formed naturally in the body as a residual NO product but is also abundant in our diet, mainly in green leafy vegetables. Oral bacteria play an unexpected key role in NO formation by reducing nitrate accumulated in saliva to the more reactive nitrite ion (NO2-). Nitrite is then absorbed into the body where numerous enzymes can reduce it further to NO. The project aims to study the role of oral bacteria and our diet in the formation of NO and how this affects the body in health and disease. Researchers' view of our oral bacteria has been permeated by a negative image over the years. These bacteria are thought to be responsible for everything from trivial problems such as bad breath and tooth decay to more serious diseases such as tooth loss and cancer. We hope to show that parts of the oral flora are instead of great benefit and can help form an important neurotransmitter. In this way, the naturally high nitrate content of vegetables may contribute to the well-known beneficial effects of these foods on the cardiovascular system.