The outcomes, printed in Free Radical Biology and Medication, could have well being implications because of the necessary position of nitric oxide and its manufacturing from dietary nitrates.
“Switching from a sedentary to an energetic life-style alters each the microbiome of the tongue and the bioavailability of nitrate and nitrite, with potential implications for oral and systemic well being,” wrote researchers from the Sport and Bodily Exercise Analysis Institute, College of the West of Scotland, and different European establishments.
Nitric oxide
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gasoline produced by the physique and from nitrates within the weight loss program. As a signaling molecule, it relaxes blood vessels, growing blood provide and reducing blood strain. It’s linked to improved cardiovascular well being and train efficiency.
Nevertheless, its signaling position is central to quite a few different physiological processes, together with irritation, oxidative stress, mucus manufacturing and neurotransmission. Research means that NO availability decreases with growing old, particularly in sedentary people.
The physique can produce NO endogenously by enzymatic conversion of the amino acid l-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). NOS is upregulated throughout train.
NO can be produced when oral micro organism assist to transform nitrates in meals reminiscent of leafy inexperienced greens and beetroot to nitrites. As soon as fashioned, the nitrites are swallowed and transformed to NO within the abdomen’s acidic atmosphere.
The present research is reportedly the primary to research HIITs results on the oral microbiome and nitrite manufacturing.
Research particulars
Eleven untrained males accomplished HIIT coaching 3 times every week (16 to 36 minutes per session) for eight weeks, adopted by a 12-week detraining interval throughout which they returned to their ordinary exercise.
Researchers collected blood, saliva and tongue swab samples at baseline, after coaching and after detraining and took a muscle biopsy below native anesthesia. They used RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography to investigate nitrate and nitrite ranges and bacterial species.
They reported that 9 bacterial species elevated in abundance following HIIT coaching. 5 species had been nitrite-producing micro organism, together with Rothia mucilaginosa and Streptococcus salivarius.
“Excessive-intensity train coaching elevated the abundance of a number of nitrite-producing micro organism and altered nitrate and nitrite ranges in saliva, plasma and muscle,” they reported.
Following detraining, a number of nitrite-producing micro organism remained elevated above baseline ranges. Nevertheless, when common exercise resumed, nitrate and nitrite bioavailability in blood, saliva and muscle appeared to return to baseline ranges.
Hypothesizing the mechanisms concerned, the researchers famous that exercise-induced NO synthesis in endothelial and muscle cells quickly oxidizes to nitrate and nitrite, with “nitrate being a extra secure and ample molecule in plasma.”
A few of this nitrate could also be absorbed by the salivary glands “and excreted within the oral cavity with saliva, the place it may stimulate the expansion and exercise of nitrite-producing micro organism, consequently growing nitrite bioavailability.”
They famous that lactate synthesis could also be one other mechanism by which train can modify the oral microbiome.
Supply: Free Radical Biology and Medication, 2025, ISSN 0891-5849. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2025.02.006. “Eight Weeks of Excessive-Depth Interval Coaching Alters the Tongue Microbiome and Impacts Nitrate and Nitrite Ranges in Beforehand Sedentary Males”. Authors: A. Simpson et al.
