Is intragastric nitric oxide abolished in intubated patients and restored by nitrite?
Intragastric generation of NO requires continuous delivery of nitrite-containing saliva and is almost abolished in critically ill, intubated patients. Enteral supplementation with nitrite could however fully restore gastric NO levels. Future studies will reveal if low NO levels contribute to stress ulcers and gastric overgrowth of bacteria often seen in these patients and in turn if restoring gastric NO with nitrite could be a useful therapeutic approach.
Older women with NIDDM had better BMD than normal women. No difference in bone density by diabetic status were observed in men. That sex difference may be explained by the obesity and the greater androgenecity reported in women with hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic conditions.