The Claim
Inorganic nitrate supplementation has no significant effect on cognitive function or cerebral blood flow in healthy adult populations.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Taking inorganic nitrate supplements does not change cognitive performance or blood flow in the brain in healthy adults.
See the scientific wording
Inorganic nitrate supplementation has no significant effect on cognitive function or cerebral blood flow in healthy adult populations.
When inorganic nitrate is consumed, it is absorbed into the blood, concentrated in saliva, and converted to nitrite by bacteria in the mouth. The nitrite enters the bloodstream and is converted to nitric oxide in tissues. Nitric oxide normally relaxes blood vessels to increase blood flow, but in healthy adults, this process does not change blood flow to the brain or improve thinking ability.
What the research says
2 studiesThis study gave healthy female athletes a beetroot juice with lots of nitrate and found it didn’t make them think any better or worse than when they drank a placebo juice. So, the nitrate didn’t change their brain performance.
Scientists looked at many studies where healthy adults took nitrate supplements and found no proof that it helped their memory or brain blood flow. So, the supplements don’t seem to make a difference.
Related videos
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 2 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.