Dietary nitrate lowers ambulatory blood pressure in treated, uncontrolled hypertension: a 7d, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

Dietary nitrate has been shown to increase nitrate/nitrite levels and decrease blood pressure (BP) in multiple populations. There are few reports among hypertensives and these reports have provided conflicting evidence. We aimed to assess the effect of daily nitrate compared to placebo in subjects with uncontrolled hypertension. On day 0, hypertensives wore an ambulatory BP monitor (ABPM) for 24h and blood was taken. Subjects were then randomized to 7d nitrate-rich beetroot juice (12.9mmol nitrate) followed by 7d nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (0.5mmol nitrate) or vice versa. ABPM and blood was assessed before and after both conditions. 20 subjects with treated yet uncontrolled hypertension entered and completed the trial (mean age = 62.5y, mean BMI = 30.7kg/m2). Baseline BP was 137/80 ± 7/7mmHg. Dietary nitrate was well tolerated and resulted in significantly increased plasma nitrite (p=0.0004) and decreased 24h SBP and DBP compared to placebo (-8mmHg; p =0.012 and -4mmHg; p=0.018 respectively). Our results support the existing data suggesting an anti-hypertensive effect of dietary nitrate in treated yet uncontrolled hypertensives. Targeted dietary strategies appear promising contributors to BP control

Vitamin d receptor variants and uncontrolled asthma

Background. Asthma is a common childhood respiratory disease, affecting around 20% of Irish children. In other populations, vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms have been associated with asthma risk. We aimed to investigate the association between 2 VDR polymorphisms and uncontrolled paediatric asthma. Methods. 44 asthmatic children and 57 healthy volunteers were studied. The VDR TaqI gene variant in exon 9 (T/C) (rs731236) and ApaI (rs7975232) in intron 8 (C/T) were determined, using TaqMan (R) Assays. The lung function, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and other biomarkers of allergy, immunity, airway and systemic inflammation were assessed. Results. The distribution of T and C alleles and genotype frequencies differed significantly between asthmatics and controls for both polymorphisms (p < 0.05). A significant association was found between both TaqI (OR = 2.37, 95% CI (1.27 - 4.45), p = 0.007) and ApaI polymorphisms, and asthma risk (OR = 2.93, 95% CI (1.62 - 5.3), p = 0.0004). No association was observed between genotypes and 25OHD levels, lung function and other biomarkers, with the exception of Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and white blood cells count (WBC). IL-10 levels were lower in asthmatics with TC genotype for TaqI polymorphism (p < 0.01) and were higher in patients with TT genotype for ApaI (p < 0.01). WBC were higher in patients with TC and CC genotypes for TaqI (p < 0.05) and lower in TT genotype for ApaI (p < 0.05). Conclusion. TaqI and ApaI polymorphisms are associated with asthma in Irish children. Further studies are warranted to investigate the importance of decreased IL-10 levels in paediatric asthmatics with specific genotypes

Vitamin D Deficiency and ARDS after SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Male gender, age over 40 years, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease have each been associated with increased severity of disease, including ARDS, after SARS-CoV-2 infection. We hypothesize that nutrition might also play a role. Vitamin D (25OHD) deficiency has previously been linked to a greater susceptibility to viral infection, ARDS, and pneumonia.3,4 Since 25OHD deficiency is both highly prevalent and easily treatable and the morbidity, mortality, and costs of SARS-CoV-2 related ARDS are great, we wanted to explore whether 25OHD levels might be associated with an increased risk of the development of ARDS due to SARS-CoV-2