Endpoint
Plasma nitrite concentration
Salts of nitrous acid or compounds containing the group NO2-. The inorganic nitrites of the type MNO2 (where M=metal) are all insoluble, except the alkali nitrites. The organic nitrites may be isomeric, but not identical with the corresponding nitro compounds. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
CAT:outcome/plasma-nitritereported in nanomol/L12 findings from 3 compounds
What moved it
How to read these marks12 findings · 3 compounds · by evidence strength
| Compound | Direction | Findings | Strongest evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| nitrate | up | 9 | Evidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers. |
| sodium nitrite | up | 2 | Evidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers. |
| Beta vulgaris | up | 1 | Evidence strength: limited. Human evidence with several recorded weaknesses, or a design that tops out at limited. |
Reported to move it
12 findings
nitrate — increases
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.Findingreplicated ×8“Concentrations of the downstream metabolites of NO3-, i.e., plasma NO2- and breath NO, were also significantly elevated by NO3- intake, albeit to a much lesser degree (, middle and bottom panels).”
Quoted verbatim from Dietary Nitrate Increases VO2peak and Performance but Does Not Alter Ventilation or Efficiency in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.. - Study
- crossover
- Dose
- 140 mL concentrated beetroot juice, 11.2 mmol nitrate, single dose, tested 2 h post-ingestion
- Population
- 8 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), acute single dose
Dietary Nitrate Increases VO2peak and Performance but Does Not Alter Ventilation or Efficiency in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.2018PMID:28916479Permalink
nitrate — increases
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.Findingreplicated ×8“Plasma [NO2−] was greater in BR-HIGH ( P < 0.001, g = 1.99), BR-MOD ( P < 0.001, g = 1.36), and BR-LOW ( P < 0.001, g = 1.59) compared to PL.”
Quoted verbatim from The effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on resistance exercise performance: A dose-response investigation.. - Study
- crossover
- Participants
- 18
- Dose
- 4 x 70 mL concentrated beetroot juice supplying ~6, ~12 or ~24 mmol nitrate, single acute dose 2.5 h before exercise
- Population
- 18 resistance-trained young men; all three nitrate doses (~6, ~12, ~24 mmol) versus nitrate-depleted beetroot juice placebo
The effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on resistance exercise performance: A dose-response investigation.2025PMID:40274664Permalink
nitrate — increases
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.Findingreplicated ×8“After dietary nitrate ingestion, the concentration of nitrite in plasma increased ~3-fold to 0.7 ± 0.6 nmol g−1, compared to baseline (P < 0.01; n = 11; Fig. 3C).”
Quoted verbatim from Human skeletal muscle nitrate store: influence of dietary nitrate supplementation and exercise.. - Study
- crossover
- Participants
- 11
- Dose
- 12.8 mmol (794 mg) nitrate, single dose, concentrated beetroot juice, 2 h pre-sampling
- Population
- 13 healthy recreationally active adults (8 men, 5 women)
Human skeletal muscle nitrate store: influence of dietary nitrate supplementation and exercise.2019PMID:31350908Permalink
sodium nitrite — increases
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.Findingreplicated ×1“Plasma nitrite [mean (SD), µmol/L] was similar at baseline [0.76 (0.14) vs. 0.73 (0.08)] but higher in the nitrite group 5 min after ceasing infusion [1.42 (0.96) vs. 0.18 (0.08); P = 0.008].”
Quoted verbatim from Intravenous sodium nitrite in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial (NIAMI).. - Study
- RCT
- Dose
- 70 umol sodium nitrite in 5 mL water, intravenous over 5 minutes
- Population
- Subset of patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction having plasma nitrite sampled before and 5 minutes after a 5-minute intravenous infusion of sodium nitrite or saline placebo before primary PCI; 17-patient substudy (11 nitrite, 6 placebo), measured 5 minutes after infusion
Intravenous sodium nitrite in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial (NIAMI).2014PMID:24639423Permalink
nitrate — increases
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.Findingreplicated ×8“Linear mixed models revealed a significant main effect of condition ( p < 0.001), with the mean plasma nitrite concentration 461 nM higher (95%CI, 269 to 653 nM) in the nitrate supplementation versus placebo condition.”
Quoted verbatim from Inter-individual differences in the blood pressure lowering effects of dietary nitrate: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled replicate crossover trial.. - Study
- crossover
- Participants
- 15
- Dose
- 140 mL concentrated nitrate-rich beetroot juice, ~14.0 mmol nitrate, single acute dose; outcome measured 2.5 h post-supplementation
- Population
- 15 healthy males, replicate crossover; secondary endpoint
Effect 461 mean difference, 95% CI 269 to 653
Inter-individual differences in the blood pressure lowering effects of dietary nitrate: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled replicate crossover trial.2025PMID:39992469Permalink
Beta vulgaris — increases
LimitedEvidence strength: limited. Human evidence with several recorded weaknesses, or a design that tops out at limited.Finding“Compared with placebo, active BJ significantly increased plasma nitrate and nitrite levels both in HD patients and HV.”
Quoted verbatim from Plasma Nitrate and Nitrite Kinetics after Single Intake of Beetroot Juice in Adult Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis and in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.. - Study
- crossover
- Duration
- 1 day
- Dose
- Single 70 mL dose of concentrated beetroot juice providing 400 mg nitrate; blood sampled up to 44 h
- Population
- Adult chronic haemodialysis patients and age-matched healthy volunteers, estimate stated for both groups together
Plasma Nitrate and Nitrite Kinetics after Single Intake of Beetroot Juice in Adult Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis and in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.2022PMID:35745210Permalink
Show the remaining 6
nitrate — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×8“Serum nitrate and nitrite concentrations were elevated five- to sixfold and 1.5- to 2-fold, respectively, in the NR-BEETx group, with peak concentrations occurring at week 8 and showing a plateau or slight decrease at week 12.”
Quoted verbatim from Effect of 12-wk dietary nitrate supplementation on carotid arterial stiffness in postmenopausal females.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 3 months
- Dose
- 8.8 mmol/day nitrate-rich beetroot extract (NR-BEETx)
- Population
- postmenopausal females (60-85 yr)
Effect of 12-wk dietary nitrate supplementation on carotid arterial stiffness in postmenopausal females.2025PMID:40066813Permalink
nitrate — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×8“Following DNS, plasma [nitrite] (∼670 vs. ∼180 nmol) and [nitrate] (∼775 vs. ∼11 μmol) were significantly elevated compared with PLA.”
Quoted verbatim from On the implication of dietary nitrate supplementation for the hemodynamic and fatigue response to cycling exercise.. - Study
- crossover
- Duration
- 3 days
- Dose
- Beetroot juice, 4.1 mmol NO3-/day, 3-day supplementation vs placebo
- Population
- Recreationally active men, n=11; cycling exercise trial
On the implication of dietary nitrate supplementation for the hemodynamic and fatigue response to cycling exercise.2021PMID:34672767Permalink
nitrate — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×8“N O 3 - ingestion increased (p < .001) plasma NO3-, plasma NO2-, and breath NO by 1,051% ± 433%, 138% ± 149%, and 111% ± 115%, respectively.”
Quoted verbatim from A Single Dose of Dietary Nitrate Increases Maximal Knee Extensor Angular Velocity and Power in Healthy Older Men and Women.. - Study
- crossover
- Dose
- 13.4 ± 1.6 mmol nitrate, single dose, beetroot juice, tested 2 hours post-ingestion
- Population
- Twelve healthy older men and women (age 71 ± 5 years), acute single dose
A Single Dose of Dietary Nitrate Increases Maximal Knee Extensor Angular Velocity and Power in Healthy Older Men and Women.2020PMID:31231758Permalink
nitrate — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×8“The results indicated that dietary nitrate supplementation increased plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations and fractional exhaled nitric oxide in patients with COPD.”
Quoted verbatim from Dietary nitrate supplementation to enhance exercise capacity in patients with COPD: Evidence from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and a network pharmacological analysis.. - Study
- meta-analysis
- Population
- patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Dietary nitrate supplementation to enhance exercise capacity in patients with COPD: Evidence from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and a network pharmacological analysis.2024PMID:38158139Permalink
nitrate — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×8“Circulating nitrate and nitrite increased significantly after NR-BJ in both males and females.”
Quoted verbatim from Effect of Dietary Nitrate Intake on Fatigue Resistance Following Ischemia-Induced Microvascular Dysfunction in Males and Females.. - Study
- crossover
- Dose
- Nitrate-rich beetroot juice (~10 mmol nitrate), single oral dose vs nitrate-depleted (~0.34 mmol)
- Population
- Healthy adults (8 male, 8 female; 20-40y); single oral dose
Effect of Dietary Nitrate Intake on Fatigue Resistance Following Ischemia-Induced Microvascular Dysfunction in Males and Females.2026PMID:41371545Permalink
sodium nitrite — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×1“Ten weeks of sodium nitrite (80 or 160 mg/day, capsules, TheraVasc; randomized, placebo control, double blind) increased plasma nitrite acutely (5- to 15-fold, P < 0.001 vs. placebo) and chronically (P < 0.10) and was well tolerated without symptomatic hypotension or clinically relevant elevations in blood methemoglobin.”
Quoted verbatim from Effects of sodium nitrite supplementation on vascular function and related small metabolite signatures in middle-aged and older adults.. - Study
- RCT
- Duration
- 2 months
- Dose
- 80 or 160 mg/day
- Population
- middle-aged and older adults
Effects of sodium nitrite supplementation on vascular function and related small metabolite signatures in middle-aged and older adults.2016PMID:26607249Permalink
How it is measured
Plasma or serum nitrite by ozone chemiluminescence or Griess assay, with the assay recorded with each finding.
Measured, not recorded
- Subject
- plasma nitrite concentration
- Measurements
- 9 measurements
- Recorded as a finding
- No
Show what was measured
plasma nitrite concentration
increases, n = 14
Plasma nitrite also increased significantly (2-fold) following beetroot juice ingestion
PMID:18250365 · one of two readings recorded this
plasma nitrite concentration
no effect, n = 14
Levels had returned to near baseline by 24h
PMID:18250365 · one of two readings recorded this
plasma nitrite concentration
decreases, p = 0.05, n = 6
Interrupting the enterosalivary circulation by spitting out all saliva blocked the rise in plasma nitrite concentration at 2.5h (P<0.05) but had no significant effect on plasma nitrate or plasma K+ concentration
PMID:18250365 · one of two readings recorded this
plasma nitrite concentration
increases, p = 0.01, n = 9
Plasma [nitrite] was elevated (P < 0.01) following BR (194 ± 51 nm) compared to PL (129 ± 23 nm) and CON (142 ± 37 nM)
PMID:21911616 · one of two readings recorded this
Plasma nitrite concentration
increases, p = 0.001, n = 6
nitrate supplementation increased (plasma nitrite) compared with placebo (245 ± 60 vs. 39 ± 9 nmol/l; P < 0.001)
PMID:28596274 · one of two readings recorded this
plasma nitrite concentration
increases, p = 0.001
N O 3 - ingestion increased (p < .001) plasma NO3-, plasma NO2-, and breath NO by 1,051% ± 433%, 138% ± 149%, and 111% ± 115%, respectively.
PMID:31231758 · one of two readings recorded this
plasma nitrite concentration
increases, p = 0.01, n = 11
After dietary nitrate ingestion, the concentration of nitrite in plasma increased ~3-fold to 0.7 ± 0.6 nmol g−1, compared to baseline (P < 0.01; n = 11; Fig. 3C).
PMID:31350908 · one of two readings recorded this
plasma nitrite concentration
no effect, p = 0.05, n = 13
As expected, the consumption of a placebo supplement did not alter plasma nitrate (n = 13) and nitrite (n = 13), or muscle nitrate (n = 11) and nitrite (n = 11) concentrations (all P > 0.05; Fig. 3).
PMID:31350908 · one of two readings recorded this
plasma nitrite concentration
increases
Acute ingestion of BRJ containing 18.2 ± 6.2 mmol of NO3- increased plasma NO3- and NO2- concentrations 23 ± 11 and 2.7 ± 2.1-fold over placebo, respectively
PMID:37244392 · one of two readings recorded this
Sources cited
12 papers
- Subject
- plasma nitrite concentration
- Findings
- 12
- Papers
- 12
Effect of Dietary Nitrate Intake on Fatigue Resistance Following Ischemia-Induced Microvascular Dysfunction in Males and Females.record2026PMID:413715451 finding
Effect of 12-wk dietary nitrate supplementation on carotid arterial stiffness in postmenopausal females.record2025PMID:400668131 finding
Inter-individual differences in the blood pressure lowering effects of dietary nitrate: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled replicate crossover trial.record2025PMID:399924691 finding
The effect of dietary nitrate supplementation on resistance exercise performance: A dose-response investigation.record2025PMID:402746641 finding
Dietary nitrate supplementation to enhance exercise capacity in patients with COPD: Evidence from a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and a network pharmacological analysis.record2024PMID:381581391 finding
Plasma Nitrate and Nitrite Kinetics after Single Intake of Beetroot Juice in Adult Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis and in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.record2022PMID:357452101 finding
On the implication of dietary nitrate supplementation for the hemodynamic and fatigue response to cycling exercise.record2021PMID:346727671 finding
A Single Dose of Dietary Nitrate Increases Maximal Knee Extensor Angular Velocity and Power in Healthy Older Men and Women.record2020PMID:312317581 finding
Human skeletal muscle nitrate store: influence of dietary nitrate supplementation and exercise.record2019PMID:313509081 finding
Dietary Nitrate Increases VO2peak and Performance but Does Not Alter Ventilation or Efficiency in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.record2018PMID:289164791 finding
Effects of sodium nitrite supplementation on vascular function and related small metabolite signatures in middle-aged and older adults.record2016PMID:266072491 finding
Intravenous sodium nitrite in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial (NIAMI).record2014PMID:246394231 finding