Inorganic anions nitrate and nitrite influence metabolic rate and glucose homeostasis. Infusionof nitrite iv caused an acute drop in resting energy expenditure (oxygen consumption)and nitrate, when given perorally, caused a drop in oxygen consumption duringexercise and a depression of the increase in blood glucose observed after an oralglucose tolerance test. The doses of nitrate and nitrite did not cause any detectablechange in methemoglobin levels of blood. Also, nitrate and nitrite did not alterlactate levels in blood. This discovery provides useful treatments to regulatethe energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis of a mammal by administration ofinorganic nitrite and/or nitrate.
