- Many studies suggest that nitrates benefit cardiovascular health. Other studies suggest they may increase cancer risk.
- Researchers conducted an analysis of studies investigating the benefits and risks of dietary nitrates.
- Further research is needed to better understand these associations.
Nitrates are compounds made from nitrogen and oxygen atoms. They are commonly found in vegetables, meat, and drinking water.
In 1976, two studies showed that nitrates can form N-nitrosamines, which are highly carcinogenic in lab animals and linked to cancer in humans, too. These studies and others have formed the basis of guidelines monitoring nitrate intake.
However, other research suggests that vegetables high in nitrates may protect against cardiovascular disease.
Studies also suggest that certain sources of nitrate may inhibit the production of N-nitrosamines. One
Further study on the health impact of nitrates could lead to the development of healthier diets and prevention strategies for various conditions.
Recently, a team led by researchers from Edith Cowan University, Australia, reviewed studies investigating the health benefits and disadvantages of dietary nitrates.
They concluded that evidence is insufficient to say that nitrates in food and water are carcinogenic and that more studies are needed to understand the scale of their effects.
“Nearly 80% of our dietary nitrate intake comes from vegetable consumption,” Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, medical toxicologist, co-medical director, and interim executive director at the National Capital Poison Center, who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today.
“When food sources of nitrate are consumed, the nitrate is absorbed by salivary glands, where it is converted into nitrite. From there, the nitrite is absorbed…
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