Dietary nitrate and brain health. Too much ado about nothing or a solution for dementia prevention?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to critically appraise the current evidence for dietary nitrate supplementation (associated with fruits and vegetables) in improving brain health and suggest future research directions.
Results Summary
The study found that dietary nitrate, linked to fruits and vegetables, has protective effects on vascular outcomes like blood pressure and endothelial function, but evidence for its benefits on brain health is less convincing.
Population
Not specified (general population implied).
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
adherence to a healthy diet | increase | brain health | - | - | are vital strategies to improve | #1 |
achieving optimal nutritional status | increase | brain health | - | - | are vital strategies to improve | #2 |
dietary nitrate | increase | cognition | - | - | has protective effects on | #3 |
dietary nitrate | increase | brain health | - | - | has protective effects on | #4 |
a higher intake of dietary nitrate | decrease | blood pressure | - | - | has been linked to protective effects on | #5 |
a higher intake of dietary nitrate | increase | endothelial function | - | - | has been linked to protective effects on | #6 |
dietary nitrate | no change | brain health | - | - | the current evidence supporting the protective effects ... is less convincing | #7 |
Dementia is a significant public health priority with approximately 55 million cases worldwide, and this number is predicted to quadruple by 2050. Adherence to a healthy diet and achieving optimal nutritional status are vital strategies to improve brain health. The importance of this area of research has been consolidated into the new term ‘nutritional psychiatry’. Dietary nitrate, closely associated with the intake of fruits and vegetables, is a compound that is increased in dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean and MIND diets and has protective effects on cognition and brain health. Nitrate is characterised by a complex metabolism and is the precursor of the nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide (NO) pathway contributing to systemic NO generation. A higher intake of dietary nitrate has been linked to protective effects on vascular outcomes including blood pressure and endothelial function. However, the current evidence supporting the protective effects of dietary nitrate on brain health is less convincing. This article aims to provide a critical appraisal of the current evidence for dietary nitrate supplementation for improving brain health and provide suggestions for future research.