These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Nitrites and nitrates in the human diet: Carcinogens or beneficial hypotensive agents?
    Author: Butler A.
    Journal: J Ethnopharmacol; 2015 Jun 05; 167():105-7. PubMed ID: 25300670.
    Abstract:
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The presence of nitrite in the human diet was thought to constitute a hazard as secondary nitrosamines are known to cause gastric cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recent publications on the physiology of serum nitrite have been consulted. PROBLEMS: Nitrite is added to some foodstuffs as an antibotulinum agent. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The epidemiological evidence that nitrite causes gastric ulcers is weak. On the other hand, evidence that the presence of nitrite in serum lowers blood pressure is strong. This allows us to explain why a Tang dynasty treatment for angina, given in a Dunhuang medical manuscript, can be successful. CONCLUSION: The presence of nitrite in food is free of danger and a diet high in nitrate is beneficial to the health.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]