Changes in body posture alter plasma nitrite but not nitrate concentration in humans

Liddle, Luke and Monaghan, Christopher and Burleigh, Mia C. and McIlvenna, Luke C. and Muggeridge, David J. and Easton, Chris (2018) Changes in body posture alter plasma nitrite but not nitrate concentration in humans. Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, 72. pp. 59-65. ISSN 1089-8603 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.niox.2017.11.008)

[thumbnail of Liddle-etal-NOBC2017-Changes-in-body-posture-alter-plasma-nitrite-but-not-nitrate-concentration]
Preview
Text. Filename: Liddle_etal_NOBC2017_Changes_in_body_posture_alter_plasma_nitrite_but_not_nitrate_concentration.pdf
Accepted Author Manuscript
License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 logo

Download (508kB)| Preview

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluated the change (Δ) in plasma volume (PV), nitrate [NO3-], and nitrite [NO2-] concentration following changes in posture in the presence and absence of elevated plasma [NO3-] and [NO2-] Methods: Fourteen healthy participants completed two trials that were preceded by either supplementation with NO3--rich beetroot juice (BR; total of ∼31 mmol NO3-) or no supplementation (CON). Both trials comprised 30 min of lying supine followed by 2 min of standing, 2 min of sitting and 5 min of sub-maximal cycling. Measurements of plasma [NO3-] and [NO2-] were made by gas-phase chemiluminescence and ΔPV was estimated using the Dill and Costill method. Results: Plasma [NO2-] decreased from baseline (CON: 120 ± 49 nM, BR: 357 ± 129 nM) after lying supine for 30 min (CON 77 ± 30 nM; BR 231 ± 92 nM, both P < 0.01) before increasing during standing (CON 109 ± 42 nM; BR 297 ± 105 nM, both P < 0.01) and sitting (CON 131 ± 43 nM; BR 385 ± 125 nM, both P < 0.01). Plasma [NO2-] remained elevated following exercise only in CON (125 ± 61 nM P = 0.02). Plasma [NO3-] was not different between measurement points in either condition (P > 0.05). PV increased from baseline during the supine phase before decreasing upon standing, sitting, and exercise in both trials (all P<0.05. Conclusions: Changing body posture causes rapid and consistent alterations in plasma [NO2-]. Researchers should therefore carefully consider the effect of posture when measuring this variable.