Guelph, Ont. researchers link nitrate to heart health
Preventing heart failure and managing diabetes are the potential benefits of a new discovery by University of Guelph researchers.
In a study using mice, the scientists found that nitrate can improve heart health – and the reason why is linked to gut microbes.
“We used sodium nitrate in our study, but nitrate is found in green leafy vegetables like spinach and beets in particular,” said Graham Holloway, a professor in the university’s Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences.
Researchers studied the effects of the nitrate on mice eating a high-fat diet, and found the nutritional compound acts like a sort of shield, even in a state of obesity.
Mice in the study were fed almost exclusively butter for eight weeks, Holloway said.
“If they were consuming nitrate, they did not develop diabetes and they did not develop what's called diastolic heart disease. So the hearts functioned a lot better and the bodies used sugar more appropriately,” he explained.
University of Guelph researchers are studying how nitrate might be used in the body to help prevent heart failure and manage diabetes. (Spencer Turcotte/CTV Kitchener)
“What's really cool with this research is, with the nitrate diet, we were actually able to improve how well the heart relaxes,” PhD candidate Leslie Ogilvie said.
To explain the effect, the team looked to the gut, linking the heart health benefits of nitrate to gastrointestinal microbes.
“The microbes in your gut are incredible little factories for biochemistry,” microbiology professor Emma Allen-Vercoe said. “This is just another example of one of the things they can do to improve your health by taking a dietary substrate -- something that you're eating -- and changing it into a molecule or molecules that have benefits for your health.”
The tests also show improved control of glucose metabolism – a factor in diabetes.
The researchers say the next step is to examine the relationship between nitrate and heart health in humans.
“But our evidence would suggest dietary nitrate could be a beneficial intervention to improve cardiovascular health in a situation of obesity,” PhD candidate Heather Petrick said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 employees across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.