Saliva Nitrite Levels Correlate with Better Glycemic Control, Insulin Sensitivity and Nitric Oxide Availability

Reference:

Bahadoran Z, Norouzirad R, Jeddi S, Ghasemi A. Higher salivary nitrite is associated with improved glycemic control and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2026 May 5. doi: 10.1186/s12986-026-01104-5. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42087156.

Notes from abstract:

Salivary nitrite (SNO₂), a marker of oral nitrate-reducing capacity and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, often impaired in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This study aimed to investigate the associations between SNO₂ concentration, and metabolic, vascular, and renal parameters in patients with T2DM.

Methods: Sixty-four adults with T2DM (53.9 ± 7.2 years, 45.3% men, diabetes duration 8.3 ± 6.2 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Salivary NO₂ concentrations, glycemic parameters, blood pressure (BP) indices, renal function, lipid profiles, liver function, and systemic NO metabolites were measured. Participants with high- and low-SNO₂ (< and ≥ 69.3 µmol/L) were compared for cardiometabolic parameters.

Results: Compared with the low-SNO₂ group, participants with higher SNO₂ had lower HbA1c (6.2% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.040), fasting insulin (6.1 vs. 8.2 µU/mL, P = 0.007), HOMA-IR (2.1 vs. 3.3, P = 0.003), and C-peptide (1.3 vs. 1.7 ng/mL, P = 0.023), with higher QUICKI (0.34 vs. 0.32, P = 0.003). Fasting serum glucose was marginally lower (142 vs. 167 mg/dL, P = 0.069) in the high- compared to the low-SNO₂ group. Median serum nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) concentrations were higher in the high-SNO₂ group (51.1 vs. 29.1 µmol/L, P = 0.015). Salivary nitrate (NO₃) (694 vs. 463 µmol/L, P = 0.035) and NO₂ (153 vs. 20.6, P = 0.001) were also higher in the high- compared to low-SNO₂ group. No significant difference was observed in BP measures, lipid profile, and liver and renal function test across groups.

Conclusions: High-SNO₂ levels were associated with greater glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and NO bioavailability in patients with T2DM.

Clinical Note:

Saliva testing for nitrite may be an easily accessible way to measure improvements in metabolic health.