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Nitrite is then transformed into nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes and widens blood vessels, improving blood flow and helping reduce blood pressure. Researchers wanted to determine whether making saliva more acidic could improve this conversion process. “Whether and how the acidity of saliva impacts the conversion of inactive nitrate into the more active nitrite is a fundamental question, as it affects important functions including blood pressure,” said Dr. Andrew Webb, Clinical Senior Lecturer at King’s College London.