Nutritional Impact on the Nitric Oxide Pathway

In this chapter, we review the effect of nutritional interventions on vascular homeostasis. We focus on the effect of diet and dietary supplements on endothelial function, and in particular, the activity and expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is a powerful regulator of vascular homeostasis. By virtue of its ability to activate soluble guanylyl cyclase and increase intracellular cyclic GMP, NO relaxes the underlying vascular smooth muscle to improve vascular compliance and to reduce vascular resistance. In addition, endothelium-derived NO inhibits platelet adhesion and aggregation, suppresses leukocyte adhesion and vascular inflammation, and limits the proliferation of the underlying vascular smooth muscle cells. In summary, there are a wide variety of dietary interventions and supplements that can improve the function of the NOS pathway.