Sodium nitrate
Sodium nitrate has been studied in 4 papers since 2022: none in people yet, 3 in animals, 1 review. The research so far is in animals. The newest paper, Aug 6, 2025: “Effects of chronic nitrate supplementation on blood pressure in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials”.
1 of its findings points the other way.
- 4 independent labs in 3 countries
- 1 finding against
- Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China and 1 more
- Animals3
What did studies of Sodium nitrate find?
11Studies of Sodium nitrate measured 11 outcomes; the most studied are cellular senescence (2 studies), DRG1–CDK5 interaction (1) and resting heart rate (1).
Cellular senescence
upin human cells1downin human cells1downin mice1
2 studies
Cellular senescence
upin human cells1downin human cells1downin mice1
Sodium nitrate induces cellular senescence in human cells.
“The study demonstrated that NO2/NaNO3 induces bronchial epithelial cellular senescence”
Cellshuman bronchial epithelial cell120 μmol/L96 h
Ambient NO₂ induces premature pulmonary senescence in rats: The role of the ROS-DRG1/CDK5 axis
Journal of environmental sciences (China)
Sodium nitrate decreases cellular senescence in human cells.
“sodium nitrate upregulated the expression of FGF21 by inhibiting the expression of miR-34a, thereby rescuing the senescent phenotype of HAoECs”
CellsH2O2-inducedhuman arterial endothelial cells
Frontiers in pharmacology
Sodium nitrate decreases cellular senescence in mice.
“Moreover, the SA-β-Gal-positive area, the expression of cell cycle regulation-related genes and miR-34a in the aorta decreased after sodium nitrate treatment.”
Animalsin ApoE-/- miceaorta
Frontiers in pharmacology
DRG1–CDK5 interaction
upin human cells1
1 study
DRG1–CDK5 interaction
upin human cells1
Sodium nitrate increases DRG1–CDK5 interaction in human cells.
“Co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that NaNO3 promoted the interaction between DRG1 and CDK5 during senescence.”
Cellsduring senescencehuman bronchial epithelial cell120 μmol/L96 h
Ambient NO₂ induces premature pulmonary senescence in rats: The role of the ROS-DRG1/CDK5 axis
Journal of environmental sciences (China)
Resting heart rate
no changein humans1
1 study
Resting heart rate
no changein humans1
Sodium nitrate has no effect on resting heart rate in humans (MD: 0.34 bpm; 95% CI: -5.68 to 6.36 bpm).
“and RHR (MD: 0.34 bpm; 95% CI: -5.68 to 6.36 bpm).”
Reviewchronic supplementationat least one weekn = 181
Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)
Blood pressure
no changein humans1
1 study
Blood pressure
no changein humans1
Sodium nitrate has no effect on blood pressure in humans (MD: -3.81 mm Hg; 95% CI: -10.05 to 2.43 mm Hg).
“Compared to the placebo condition, NO3− supplementation did not result in significant reductions in DBP (MD: -2.00 mm Hg; 95% CI: -4.37 to 0.38 mm Hg); SBP (MD: -3.81 mm Hg; 95% CI: -10.05 to 2.43 mm Hg)”
Reviewchronic supplementationat least one weekn = 181
Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)
Inflammation
downin mice1
1 study
Inflammation
downin mice1
Sodium nitrate decreases inflammation in mice.
“relieved inflammatory reactions in ApoE-/- mice”
Animalsin ApoE-/- mice
Frontiers in pharmacology
Atherosclerosis
downin mice1
1 study
Atherosclerosis
downin mice1
Sodium nitrate decreases atherosclerosis in mice.
“sodium nitrate decreased the Oil Red O-positive area, reduced the serum cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations”
Animalsin ApoE-/- miceaorta
Frontiers in pharmacology
NCAM1+ fibers percentage
downin mice1
1 study
NCAM1+ fibers percentage
downin mice1
Sodium nitrate decreases NCAM1+ fibers percentage in mice.
“lower percentage of NCAM1+ fibres”
Animalsin old micein drinking waterskeletal muscle1.5 mm8 weeks
Dietary nitrate supplementation mitigates age-related changes at the neuromuscular junction in mice
The Journal of physiology
mTOR signaling
upin mice1
1 study
mTOR signaling
upin mice1
Sodium nitrate activates mTOR signaling in mice.
“higher phosphorylation of P70S6K and S6, downstream factors of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin synthetic pathway”
Animalsin old micein drinking waterskeletal muscle1.5 mm8 weeks
Dietary nitrate supplementation mitigates age-related changes at the neuromuscular junction in mice
The Journal of physiology
Oxidative stress and ROS signaling
downin mice1
1 study
Oxidative stress and ROS signaling
downin mice1
Sodium nitrate decreases oxidative stress and ROS signaling in mice.
“lower oxidative stress (lower carbonylated proteins and mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production, higher GPX protein levels)”
Animalsin old micein drinking waterskeletal muscle1.5 mm8 weeks
Dietary nitrate supplementation mitigates age-related changes at the neuromuscular junction in mice
The Journal of physiology
Muscle fiber size
upin mice1
1 study
Muscle fiber size
upin mice1
Sodium nitrate improves muscle fiber size in mice.
“lower fibrosis and improved muscle fibre size”
Animalsin old micein drinking waterskeletal muscle1.5 mm8 weeks
Dietary nitrate supplementation mitigates age-related changes at the neuromuscular junction in mice
The Journal of physiology