Table of Contents
Nathan Bryan, Ph.D.
assistant professor of molecular medicine, The Brown
Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention
of Human Diseases (IMM)
Research Work: Cardiovascular Effects of Dietary Nitrite in Health and Disease
Nathan Bryan, Ph.D.
Several identifiable factors put people at risk for heart disease, including smoking, high cholesterol, hypertension, lack of exercise, poor diet, obesity and diabetes. Yet, some people still develop heart disease for unknown reasons.
Work by Nathan Bryan, Ph.D., examines the role nitric oxide plays in cardiovascular disease and its function as an indicator in cardiovascular health.
Nitric oxide (NO) works as a signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system that tells blood vessels to relax and widen, which increases oxygen and blood flow to cells, tissues and organs.
“Nitric oxide insufficiency is a hallmark of a number of cardiovascular disorders and therefore determining the NO status of patients may provide an additional and predictive factor for people at risk for heart attacks or heart disease,” Bryan said. “Although there are established risk factors routinely used in the clinic today, many patients who do not fit within these risk factors still develop heart disease or suffer from heart attacks. My lab is in search of novel NO biomarkers that may be predictive in all patients and offer us a chance to intervene before the onset and progression of disease.”
Using molecular biology and analytical biochemistry techniques, much of the work in Bryan’s laboratory involves in vivo characterization of nitric oxide/nitrite metabolism with genetically engineered animal models of disease.
Bryan’s research has led to many important discoveries about nitric oxide’s role in heart disease.
“Using analytical methods that I devised and validated, we were able to reveal the presence of different NO metabolites and products produced by the organ systems of mammals, which may play specific roles in modulating local NO availability or signaling,” Bryan explained.
“We recently discovered that nitrite is a biologically active molecule, which was previously thought to be an inert breakdown product of NO production. Most recently, we discovered that nitrite and nitrate consumed in the diet can protect the heart from injury from a heart attack. Therefore, consuming a diet rich in nitrites and nitrates, such as green leafy vegetables, can offer protection for people at risk for heart attacks.”
Bryan’s recent findings suggest that a healthful diet consisting of heaps of fresh fruits and vegetables may contribute to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, while improving overall health and well-being.
“Since nitrite and nitrate are common constituents of many fruits and vegetables, changes in dietary habits may have profound effects on many diseases associated with NO insufficiency, including cardiovascular disease,” he said, adding that an optimal diet may consist of a sufficient supply of nitrite and nitrate along with antioxidants for health and disease prevention.
Ultimately, Bryan’s goal is to find new nitric oxide biomarkers that may provide another means of identifying those at risk for heart disease before it has a chance to progress.
“Recognizing the molecular and genetic changes that occur early on in the disease process will allow us to intervene and prevent the onset and progression of disease rather than treat the disease after it has occurred,” Bryan said. “With one in every three men and one in every 10 women in the United States expected to develop a major cardiovascular disease before reaching age 60, it is critical to examine preventive measures that promote cardiovascular health.”