ePrints

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

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Bloss Stephan, Dr Oliver Shannon, Dr Mario Siervo

Downloads

• Published version [.pdf]

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

Abstract

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

Publication metadata

Author(s): Alharbi M, Stephan BC, Shannon OM, Siervo M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nutrition and Metabolism

Year: 2023

Volume: 20

Online publication date: 25/10/2023

Acceptance date: 07/10/2023

Date deposited: 06/11/2023

ISSN (electronic): 1743-7075

Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12986-023-00766-9

DOI: 10.1186/s12986-023-00766-9

Altmetrics

Share