James H Silver
One of the hallmarks of concussion is a disturbance, typically a reduction, in cerebral blood flow. Studies have shown a rapid increase in nitric oxide within minutes following head injury, followed by a decline to below baseline within hours. This reduction in nitrite levels is closely linked to a reduction in cerebral blood flow. Inorganic nitrite has recently been shown to be a source of nitric oxide under conditions of ischemia or hypoxia, and has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow and to improve neurovascular coupling. Dietary nitrate has been shown to be converted to nitrite in the bloodstream. This review suggests that inorganic nitrite, and/or dietary nitrate, should be investigated for their potential in treating concussion symptoms.