It acts as a transporter, moving fatty acids into the mitochondria of your cells, where they are converted into energy
For example, Metformin, an AMPK activator and complex I inhibitor, has been suggested to confer organ protection via multiple mechanisms: it reduces hyperglycemia (high sugars can worsen mitochondrial injury), activates AMPK which stimulates antioxidant defenses and mitophagy, and skew metabolism away from pure glycolysis
Protein kinase C and beyond
An important caveat is that you need a healthy mouth, stomach, and intestines to absorb nitrates into the bloodstream and convert some of them to nitric oxide
Interestingly, even in studies where beta-3 receptors were absent, some metabolic effects persisted with acute dosing, suggesting secondary mechanisms may exist