Dietary nitrates and nitrites have long been viewed with caution due to their potential to form carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. However, recent research has unveiled a complex narrative, suggesting that these compounds may also play a crucial role in maintaining nitric oxide homeostasis and vasodilation, particularly in contexts of endothelial dysfunction.

This seminar will delve into the current understanding of dietary nitrate and nitrite, exploring their sources, metabolism, and physiological effects. Dr. Hord will discuss the contexts in which these compounds may pose health risks, as well as the emerging evidence supporting their consideration as conditionally essential nutrients.

Watch in-person at Hallie Ford Center 115

Watch via https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/92822251416

Learn more about upcoming and past seminars.

Speaker

Norman Hord, PhD, MPH, RD

Dr. Norman Hord is a distinguished leader in the field of nutritional sciences, currently serving as the head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Oklahoma State University. With a comprehensive educational background, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University, a Master of Science in Nutrition from Clemson University, a PhD in Nutrition from Purdue University, and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Hord's extensive career includes faculty positions at Oregon State University, where he was the school head for the Department of Biological and Populations Health Sciences, and as a professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Allied Health, where he chaired the Department of Nutritional Sciences. His research expertise spans the role of dietary factors in phenotypes related to colorectal cancer risk, using non-tumorigenic colon epithelial cell models to study dietary factor- and adipokine-induced cell behavior.

As a registered dietitian and nutritional scientist, Dr. Hord has received grant support from various institutions, including the USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant program, the National Cancer Institute, and the Kellogg Company. He has published research in numerous nutrition, cancer research, cell biology, and dietetics journals and has served on National Institutes of Health grant review panels and as a manuscript reviewer for various journals.

Dr. Hord is passionate about advancing the field of nutritional sciences and fostering new collaborations in research. He aims to provide support and vision for new initiatives at Oklahoma State University, aligning with the institution's land-grant mission.

Research interests

Norman Hord's research interests primarily focus on the health benefits of dietary nitrates and nitrites, particularly in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and skeletal disorders associated with endothelial nitric oxide (NO) deficiency. Key areas of his research include:

Dietary Nitrate and Nitrite: Dr. Hord investigates how dietary nitrates and nitrites contribute to endogenous NO production through the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway. This pathway presents new opportunities for preventing and treating hypertension and other conditions related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular Health: His work explores the role of dietary nitrates from plant foods in cardiovascular health, suggesting that these compounds may function as conditionally essential nutrients by contributing to nitric oxide homeostasis and vasodilation.

Metabolic Determinants: Dr. Hord studies the metabolic determinants of the cardiovascular effects of dietary nitrate, examining how these compounds influence blood pressure, atherosclerotic plaque stability, and athletic performance in adults.

Food Patterns and Supplements: His research also delves into the concentrations of dietary nitrates and nitrites in food patterns and dietary supplements, highlighting the importance of plant-based dietary sources for cardiovascular health.

Regulatory Reevaluation: Dr. Hord advocates for a systematic reevaluation of the literature to highlight the potential beneficial contributions of nitrates and nitrites from vegetables and fruits to cardiovascular health, challenging existing regulatory limits on these compounds.

Overall, Dr. Hord's research aims to elucidate the health benefits of dietary nitrates and nitrites, emphasizing their role in cardiovascular health and advocating for a reconsideration of their regulatory status.