Nitrate, Nitrite and Type 2 Diabetes

Recent research punctuates that the nitrate (NO3)-nitrite (NO2)-nitric oxide (NO) pathway may be a potential therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes (T2D), a NOdisrupted metabolic disorder. Nutritional aspects of the NO3-NO2-NO pathway has been highlighted by focusing on the protective effects of some traditional high-NO3 diet, such as Mediterranean and DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diets and their NO3-rich components, i.e., fruits, vegetables, legumes, and green leafy vegetables, against the development of T2D. Both acute and long-term administration of inorganic NO3 and NO2 in animal experiments display anti-diabetic properties; inorganic NO3 decreases fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and proinsulin to insulin ratio and improves glucose tolerance. In contrast to animal experiments, NO3/NO2 therapy has failed to show anti-diabetic properties and beneficial effects on glucose and insulin homeostasis in humans. This lost-i- -translation remains an open question, and long-term clinical trials are needed to confirm the salutary effects of inorganic NO3 and NO2 as the natural NO boosters in patients with T2D.