Skeletal Muscle Nitrate as a Regulator of Systemic Nitric Oxide Homeostasis
Nonenzymatic nitric oxide (NO) generation via the reduction of nitrate and nitrite ions, along with remarkably high levels of nitrate ions in skeletal muscle, have been described recently. Skeletal muscle nitrate storage may be critical for maintenance of NO homeostasis in healthy aging, and nitrate supplementation may be useful for the treatment of specific pathophysiologies and for enhancing normal functions.