Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Nitrate Metabolism: A Curse or Blessing to Humanity?

Daniel A. Nnate, Ngozi K. Achi

Journal of Scientific Research and Reports · pp. 1–19 · Published 24 Jul 2016

10.9734/JSRR/2016/26773

Abstract

Nitrate (NO3ˉ) is a metabolic waste produced in humans during the detoxification of nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is responsible for the regulation of blood flow, cell signaling and host defense in a number of mammalian tissues. Shortly after synthesis, nitric oxide is oxidized to nitrate in order to terminate its effect. NO can also be synthesized by an alternative mechanism that relies on the sequential reduction of nitrate to nitrite (NO2ˉ); thereby making nitrite a storage pool that can be reduced to NO under appropriate condition with a concomitant increase in the methemoglobin (metHb) concentration. The NO and metHb produced can result to adverse health effects if not detoxified. NADH-methemoglobin reductase accounts for most metHb reduction. Nitric oxide dioxygenases (NODs) catalyze the conversion of NO to NO3ˉ­­­­­ which help to protect cells from NO poisoning. Nitrate and its reduction products are involved in the modification of the body’s physiological functions. We are exposed to nitrate from dietary intake and nitric oxide oxidation. Nitrate metabolism becomes a threat when nitrate is consumed in excess and the body lacks the enzymes that catalyze the detoxification of its byproducts. During such condition, the hemoglobin, nucleic acids, dietary amines and glycoproteins acts as the primary molecule that mediates its effects. Nitrate is a potential therapeutic agent in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and improving cell viability. This review serves to reevaluate nitrate metabolism in human with the intentions of understanding its role in NO homeostasis and its metabolic effect due to excess intake.

Nitrite nitric oxide nitrogen dioxide methemoglobin peroxynitrite nitric oxide dioxygenase dietary amines

Cited by 8

Mechanistic insights into nitric oxide oxygenation (NOO) reactions of {CrNO} 5 and {CoNO} 8

Akshaya Keerthi C. S., Sandip Das, Kulbir · Dalton Transactions · 2023

Nitric oxide dioxygenation (NOD) reactions of Co III -peroxo and Ni III -peroxo complexes: NOD versus NO activation

Mahesh Yenuganti, Sandip Das, Kulbir · Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers · 2020

Using of low grade zeolite based fly ash as slow release agent for Zea mays growth

Jumaeri, W Sumarni, L W Ningrum · Journal of Physics: Conference Series · 2020

Boron nitride-based materials for the removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions: A review

Shujun Yu, Xiangxue Wang, Hongwei Pang · Chemical Engineering Journal · 2018

Shallow Shell SSTA63 resin: a rapid approach to remediation of hazardous nitrate

Elif Çendik, Mügenur Saygı, Yaşar Kemal Recepoğlu · Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology · 2024

Formation Mechanism of Inter-Crosslink in DNA by Nitrogen Oxides Pollutants through A Diazonium Intermediate

Noemi Hernandez-Haro, Christian Solis-Calero, Rodrigo Casasnovas · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2022

Role of Food habit and Enteric microbes in the development of colon cancer

Oluwatobi Victoria Obayomi, Abiola Folakemi Olaniran, Stephen Olugbemiga Owa · 2024 International Conference on Science, Engineering and Business for Driving Sustainable Development Goals (SEB4SDG) · 2024

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

0

Page views

0

PDF downloads

0

Outbound clicks

8

Citations

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

No views recorded yet.

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

No traffic recorded yet.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.