Does dietary nitrate boost the effects of caloric restriction on brain health? Potential physiological mechanisms and implications for future research

Nutrition & Metabolism

Perspective

Blossom CM Stephan¹  Mario Siervo¹  Oliver M Shannon²  Mushari Alharbi³ 

[1] Curtin Dementia Centre of Excellence, EnAble Institute, Curtin University, Kent Street, 6102, Bentley, WA, Australia;Human Nutrition Research Centre, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, NE2 4HH, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK;School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen’s Medical Centre, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK;Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, 22252, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia;

关键词: Dietary nitrate;    Nitric oxide;    Caloric restriction;    Brain health;    Cognitive function;    Endothelial function;    Dementia;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12986-023-00766-9

 received in 2023-05-26, accepted in 2023-10-07,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Dementia is a highly prevalent and costly disease characterised by deterioration of cognitive and physical capacity due to changes in brain function and structure. Given the absence of effective treatment options for dementia, dietary and other lifestyle approaches have been advocated as potential strategies to reduce the burden of this condition. Maintaining an optimal nutritional status is vital for the preservation of brain function and structure. Several studies have recognised the significant role of nutritional factors to protect and enhance metabolic, cerebrovascular, and neurocognitive functions. Caloric restriction (CR) positively impacts on brain function via a modulation of mitochondrial efficiency, endothelial function, neuro-inflammatory, antioxidant and autophagy responses. Dietary nitrate, which serves as a substrate for the ubiquitous gasotransmitter nitric oxide (NO), has been identified as a promising nutritional intervention that could have an important role in improving vascular and metabolic brain regulation by affecting oxidative metabolism, ROS production, and endothelial and neuronal integrity. Only one study has recently tested the combined effects of both interventions and showed preliminary, positive outcomes cognitive function. This paper explores the potential synergistic effects of a nutritional strategy based on the co-administration of CR and a high-nitrate diet as a potential and more effective (than either intervention alone) strategy to protect brain health and reduce dementia risk.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023