Dietary Nitrate and the Oral Microbiome in Children With Primary Hypertension

Primary hypertension (PH) in children and adolescents is increasingly recognized as a significant public health concern. Epidemiological data from multiple cohorts, including the Young Finns Study and other long-term follow-ups, demonstrate that elevated systolic blood pressure beginning in adolescence predicts endothelial dysfunction, increased carotid intima-media thickness, and a higher lifetime risk of cardiovascular morbidity. Children with PH frequently show early subclinical changes such as impaired flow-mediated dilation, increased arterial stiffness, heightened sympathetic activity, and altered nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Despite these findings, the early biological mechanisms that contribute to PH in youth remain insufficiently characterized, and non-invasive biomarkers for early detection are limited.

Recent advances in pediatric cardiovascular science suggest that the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide (NO₃- → NO₂- → NO) enterosalivary pathway may play a previously underappreciated role in blood pressure regulation. This pathway relies heavily on commensal oral bacteria capable of reducing dietary nitrate to nitrite, which is then swallowed and converted to NO systemically. Any disruption in this oral microbial nitrate-reducing capacity, whether due to dysbiosis, impaired oral hygiene, inflammation, dietary differences, or ecological shifts during adolescence may diminish NO bioavailability and subsequently raise blood pressure. Several adult studies have shown that antibacterial mouthwashes, changes in oral microbiota composition, and reduced salivary nitrate-reducing activity lead to measurable increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. However, pediatric data remain extremely scarce, with no comprehensive metagenomic investigation of oral microbiota in children with PH published to date.

This study is therefore designed to characterise, in detail, the relationships between (i) salivary microbiota composition, (ii) nitrate/nitrite conversion capacity, (iii) salivary biochemical characteristics, and (iv) blood pressure profiles in adolescents aged 12-18 years diagnosed with primary hypertension. Importantly, the project employs non-invasive sampling methods (stimulated and unstimulated saliva), enabling participation from children who may not tolerate venipuncture or invasive sampling procedures, and providing a practical model for future screening tools.

1. Scientific Rationale and Background 1.1. Pediatric Hypertension

Primary hypertension in youth was once considered rare but now affects up to 3-5% of adolescents globally. It is strongly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, sympathetic overactivation, endothelial dysfunction, and chronic inflammatory states. Although pharmacological treatment is increasingly used, current pediatric guidelines emphasise early identification and non-pharmacological management strategies.

1.2. Oral Microbiota and Blood Pressure

The oral cavity hosts over 700 bacterial species, many of which participate in nitrate metabolism. Key nitrate-reducing genera include Veillonella, Neisseria, Rothia, Actinomyces, and Prevotella. Disturbances in these communities due to diet, oral hygiene, frequent mouthwash use, periodontal inflammation, or underlying systemic disease may reduce the efficiency of nitrate reduction.

Several human trials in adults have demonstrated that:

mouthwash-mediated suppression of nitrate-reducing bacteria acutely increases blood pressure,

dietary nitrate supplementation raises salivary nitrite levels and lowers systolic BP,

individuals with lower nitrate-reducing capacity have higher resting BP.

However, children fundamentally differ from adults in oral ecology, immune maturation, hormonal shifts during puberty, diet, and salivary gland physiology. Therefore, adult data cannot be extrapolated to pediatric populations.

1.3. Nitric Oxide, Vascular Function, and Pediatric Risk

NO is vital for vascular homeostasis. Reduced NO availability contributes to endothelial dysfunction, impaired vasodilation, increased vascular tone, and early arterial stiffness. Several pediatric studies have demonstrated:

elevated basal NO metabolites in obese children due to chronic low-grade inflammation,

disrupted NO pathways in children with early metabolic abnormalities,

correlations between salivary nitrite levels and systemic metabolic markers.

Yet, no study has simultaneously examined oral microbiome composition + nitrate reductase activity + pediatric hypertension in a unified framework. 2. Study Objectives and Hypotheses Primary Objective

To determine whether adolescents with primary hypertension exhibit alterations in oral microbiota composition and reduced salivary nitrate-reducing capacity compared with normotensive controls.

Secondary Objectives

To quantify salivary nitrate, nitrite, pH, flow rate, total protein, lysozyme activity and correlate these with blood pressure levels.

To explore associations between oral microbial diversity (alpha/beta diversity metrics) and hypertension status.

To identify specific bacterial taxa or functional gene pathways (via metagenomic sequencing) associated with impaired nitrate reduction.

To evaluate whether salivary microbiome features could serve as non-invasive biomarkers for early vascular risk or masked hypertension.

To explore relationships between nitrate-related pathways and anthropometric measures, oral health indices, diet, and lifestyle.

Hypotheses

Children with PH have distinct oral microbial compositions with lower abundance of nitrate-reducing bacteria.

Reduced nitrate-reducing capacity is associated with lower salivary nitrite, altered NO metabolism, and higher systolic BP.

Specific microbial signatures may predict masked hypertension and early vascular dysfunction. 3. Study Design

This is a observational, cross-sectional, non-interventional clinical study. No therapeutic agents or dietary supplements will be administered. All measurements rely on non-invasive, routine pediatric dental and clinical procedures.

3.1. Participants

Two groups will be recruited:

Primary Hypertension Group (PH Group)

Diagnosed according to AAP and ESH pediatric hypertension criteria.

Healthy Control Group

Age- and sex-matched.

Normotensive based on standardized clinic measurements.

3.2. Sample size

Based on prior microbiome variability estimates and effect sizes in adult nitrate-reduction studies, a minimum of 48 participants is planned (24 PH + 24 control). This number is adequate for exploratory metagenomic and metabolite correlations. Power calculations used α=0.05 and β=0.20 for differences in nitrate reduction capacity. 4. Data Collection Procedures 4.1. Blood Pressure Measurement

Performed using pediatric cuff-adjusted oscillometric devices validated for clinical use.

• Salivary Nitrate and Nitrite Levels [Срок оценки: Baseline (single visit)]
• Salivary pH [Срок оценки: Baseline]
• Salivary Flow Rate [Срок оценки: baseline]
• Salivary Lysozyme Activity [Срок оценки: baseline]