Skeletal muscle nitrate metabolism as a modulator of cardiovascular health in ageing (Ref: 3978)

无机硝酸盐是我们饮食中天然的一部分，在许多蔬菜中特别丰富。硝酸盐本身在生物学上是不活跃的，但有一些途径可以将其转化为一氧化氮（NO），这是一种调节代谢和心血管健康许多方面的重要分子。足够的饮食硝酸盐摄入量可能是特别重要的老年人，当身体的NO酶的生产减少。最近的研究表明，骨骼肌可能在人体中作为硝酸盐储存以及硝酸盐和NO代谢的场所发挥重要作用（图1）。因此，本博士研究的目的是探索心血管健康指标与骨骼肌硝酸盐还原能力和NO代谢之间的关系。该研究将评估人体骨骼肌是否对硝酸盐减少做出重大贡献，探索循环和骨骼肌之间硝酸盐转运的机制，并确定饮食干预对年轻人和老年人肌肉硝酸盐含量和功能结果的影响。

Inorganic nitrate is a natural part of our diet and is particularly abundant in many vegetables. Nitrate itself is biologically inactive but there are pathways by which it can be converted into nitric oxide (NO), an important molecule that regulates many aspects of metabolic and cardiovascular health. Sufficient dietary nitrate intake may be particularly important in older age, when the body's enzymatic production of NO decreases. Recent research indicates that skeletal muscle may play an important role as a site for nitrate storage, and nitrate and NO metabolism, in humans (Figure 1). The aim of this PhD studentship, therefore, is to explore the relationships between indices of cardiovascular health and nitrate-reduction capacity and NO metabolism of skeletal muscle. The research will assess whether human skeletal muscle makes a significant contribution to nitrate reduction, explore the mechanisms of nitrate transport between the circulation and skeletal muscle, and determine the influence of dietary interventions on muscle nitrate content and functional outcomes in younger and older adults.