Naturally occurring nitrate and nitrite in foods in relation to infant methaemoglobinaemia

doi:10.1016/0015-6264(71)90307-5

Food and Cosmetics Toxicology

Volume 9, Issue 2, 1971, Pages 219-228

https://doi.org/10.1016/0015-6264(71)90307-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

The nitrate and nitrite content of vegetables and commercially prepared baby food has been reviewed in the light of literature reports of infant methaemoglobinaemia. Methaemoglobinaemia results from absorption of the nitrite ion formed by conversion of nitrate. Documented evidence indicates conversion prior to ingestion as the primary health hazard and European experience implicates only nitrate-rich unprocessed spinach. Unprocessed spinach should be stored for a minimum length of time under proper conditions, and home-prepared spinach should never be stored for subsequent feeding. No cases of toxicity resulting from nitrates in foods have been reported in North America, but in view of the apparent sensitivity of young infants, prudence would dictate that foods, such as spinach and beets, containing high levels of nitrate should not be introduced into the diet of children below 3 months of age. Selectivity should be used in the choice of foods given during infancy if signs of gastro-intestinal disorder become apparent.

There is no evidence that the nitrate content of commercially prepared foods available on the Canadian market constitutes a hazard to human health.

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While the concentration of nitrate in surface and groundwater is normally around 10 mg L-1 (10 ppm or 160 μM), in areas where agriculture is intensive this may rise to hundreds or thousands of mg L−1 [4] with adverse environmental human health effects [1]. In humans, it is linked with serious conditions including infant methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome), cancers, kidney disease and infertility [5-9]. According to the World Health organisation (WHO), the maximum acceptable limit of nitrate in drinking water is 50 mg L−1.
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At 3 months, many parents will start to introduce food, and the dependence on powdered formula may decrease, so some of the exposure will decrease as well. Although work done by Cornblath and Hartmann42 shows quite the contrary, it has been suggested that methemoglobinemia is a complicated illness and that it takes several factors to be present for methemoglobinemia to occur.50 The only way to prevent infant methemoglobinemia from nitrate in well water is by breastfeeding.
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Nitrate and nitrite levels in our natural water supplies are important indicators of water quality. The increasing levels of nitrate and nitrite concentrations are becoming an important problem for public health. Nitrates are of great toxicological concern as they are involved in the origin of nitrites and nitrosamines and the development of metahaemoglobinaemia in infants. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of nitrate and nitrite in commonly consumed mineral water samples in the Afyonkarahisar region of western Turkey. Thirteen brands of domestic fruity and natural mineral waters were analyzed to determine nitrate and nitrite levels. Measurement of the color intensity was carried out using a photometry at 540 nm and comparing it to standard nitrate and nitrite solutions. Average nitrate concentrations of 3.093±1.53 mg/L (range 1.02–7.50 mg/L) for fruity, and 3.990±2.46 mg/L (range 1.09–13.20 mg/L) for natural mineral waters, were detected. Regarding nitrite, average concentrations were 0.020±0.007 mg/L (range 0.009–0.049 mg/L) for fruity and 0.026±0.008 mg/L (range 0.008–0.087 mg/L) for natural mineral waters. According to the results of the present study, nitrate and nitrite levels in the fruity and natural mineral waters were not found in concentrations considered to be hazardous in terms of public health.
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^☆: Presented at a Symposium on “Chemical Contaminants in Foods—Hazard or Not?”, sponsored by the Food and Drug Directorate, Department of National Health and Welfare, Ottawa, Ontario, and held in Ottawa on 18–19 June 1970.

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Review sectionNaturally occurring nitrate and nitrite in foods in relation to infant methaemoglobinaemia☆

Abstract

Lancet

Archs fr. Pédiat.

J. agric. Fd Chem.

J. Am. chem. Soc.

Z. Kinderheilk.

Zur Frage die Neigung junger Säuglinge an methämoglobinemien Erkranken

Arch. Kinderheilk.

Effect of dietary nitrate on thyroid function

Science, N. Y.