Effects of Inorganic Nitrite on skeletal muscle: PAD

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The Effects of Inorganic Nitrite on cardiac and skeletal muscle: Physiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutic Potential. Peripheral Arterial Disease

• IRAS ID

  87096

• Contact name

  Michael P Frenneaux

• Sponsor organisation

  Norfolk and Norwich NHS Foundation Trust

• Eudract number

  2012-000201-72

• Research summary

  Intermittent claudication is a common problem affecting 4% of people aged over 55 and is associated with a significantly impaired quality of life. Patients with intermittent claudication have a reduced arterial supply to their leg muscles which becomes flow limiting during exercise resulting in ischaemic muscle pain. Previous studies in healthy volunteers have shown that interventions which modestly increasing blood nitrite, improve muscle function during exercise. The mechanisms responsible for this effect remain unknown. One small study involving 8 patients has shown that nitrate supplementation in the form of beetroot juice taken 180 minutes prior to treadmill exercise increased plasma nitrite concentrations and increased walking distance in patients. This study did not control for the variability observed in maximal walking distance or the well document placebo effect. These findings needs to be verified in a robust placebo controlled trial. Inorganic nitrate in the diet is absorbed into the bloodstream, concentrated in the saliva and reduced by bacteria in the mouth to nitrite, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream. The purpose of this 6 week study is to look at the effects of inorganic nitrate supplementation on the metabolic efficiency of skeletal muscles during exercise. Nitrate supplementation in this cohort of patients has the potential to increase claudication distance and improve quality of life.

• REC name

  Scotland A REC

• REC reference

  12/SS/0019

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Apr 2012

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion