NOS3 and metabolic syndrome: Supplementation with sodium nitrate in eNOS-deficient mice with features of metabolic syndrome reduced blood pressure [41]; a similar effect was also observed following treatment with inorganic nitrate in hypertensive and eNOS deficient rat, against hypertension and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury [20, 55]; these findings indicate the compensatory effects of exogenous nitrate for a disrupted nitrate/nitrite/NO pathway and related disorders in pathological conditions.