• Home
  • The Nitrate Content of Commonly Consumed Agricultural Products Including Vegetables, Cereals, and Legumes in Iran

Share To

Article Url


Manuscript ID : JCHR-2108-1371 (R2) Visit : 273 Page: 293 - 303

10.22034/jchr.2021.1936942.1371

Article Type: Original Research

The Nitrate Content of Commonly Consumed Agricultural Products Including Vegetables, Cereals, and Legumes in Iran

Subject Areas : Journal of Chemical Health Risks

Behrooz Jannat 1 , Sara Mohamadi 2 , Narges Abdoli 3 , Tayebe Zeinali 4 , Parisa Sadighara 5

1 - Halal research center of IRI, F.D.A., Iran
2 - Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahre-Kord University, Shahre-Kord, Iran
3 - Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.), Tehran, Iran
4 - Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
5 - Department of Environmental Health, Food Safety Division, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2021-08-02 Accepted : 2022-02-05 Published : 2022-06-01

Keywords: Nitrate, Agricultural Products, Vegetables,

Abstract :

The excessive presence of nitrate in foodstuff can be potentially toxic and carcinogenic to humans. This is because about 80% of the nitrate that enters the human body comes from vegetables. Therefore, the present study determined the nitrate content in agricultural products commonly consumed by Iranians. A total of 222 samples of 19 different varieties of these products, including vegetables (171 samples), cereals (42 samples), and legumes (9 samples), were randomly collected from major grocery stores in different cities in Iran between September 22 and December 15, 2020. The methods of HPLC-UV were used to evaluate the nitrate content. The detection limits (L.O.D.) and limit of quantification (L.O.Q.) were 0.071 and 0.22 mg kg-1, respectively. As a result, the mean nitrate levels in the different samples varied from 1042.50 mg kg-1 in lettuce to 49.90 mg kg-1 in wheat. Potato also had a higher mean nitrate concentration than the standard level. In addition, products such as tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, herbs, and lettuce had significantly lower average nitrate concentrations than the typical values. Moreover, the average nitrate concentration was highest in the central region (492.7 mg kg-1). In contrast, the lowest average nitrate concentration was in the northern region (121.7 mg kg-1) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the highest average nitrate concentration (468.52 mg kg-1) was found in the vegetable group and the lowest in the cereal group (50.40 mg kg-1) (P < 0.05). Taken together, this information could allow the establishment of a database for the quantification of nitrate exposure and its risk-benefit determination in the Iranian population.

References:


  1. Colla G., Kim H.J., Kyriacou M.C., Rouphael Y., 2018. Nitrate in fruits and vegetables. Sci Hortic. 237, 221-238.
    2.
  2. Maema L.P., Potgieter M., Mahlo S.M., 2016. Invasive alien plant species used for the treatment of various diseases in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 13 (4), 223-231.
    3.
  3. León V.M., Luzardo O.P., 2020. Evaluation of nitrate contents in regulated and non-regulated leafy vegetables of high consumption in the Canary Islands, Spain: Risk assessment. Food Chem Toxicol. 146, 111812.
    4.
  4. Petrea S.M., Cristea V., Dediu L., Contoman M., Lupoae P., Placinta S., Coada M.T., Enache M., 2013. A comparison of nitrate level in spinach grown both under different densities in aquaponic system and under natural growth conditions. Food Technol. 37 (2), 47-58.
    5.
  5. Bondonno C.P., Croft K.D., Hodgson J.M., 2016. Dietary nitrate, nitric oxide, and cardiovascular health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 56 (12), 2036-2052.
    6.
  6. Kalaycıoğlu Z., Erim F.B., 2019. Nitrate and nitrites in foods: worldwide regional distribution in view of their risks and benefits. J Agric Food Chem. 67(26), 7205-7222.
    7.
  7. Lidder S., Webb A.J., 2013. Vascular effects of dietary nitrate (as found in green leafy vegetables and beetroot) via the nitratenitrite nitric oxide pathway. Br Clin Pharmacol. 75(3), 677-696.
    8.
  8. Pardo-Marín O., Yusà-Pelechà V., Villalba-Martín P., Perez-Dasí J., 2010. Monitoring programme on nitrates in vegetables and vegetable-based baby foods marketed in the Region of Valencia, Spain: levels and estimated daily intake. Food Addit Contam. 27(4), 478-486.
    9.
  9. Salehzadeh H., Maleki A., Rezaee R., Shahmoradi B., Ponnet K., 2020. The nitrate content of fresh and cooked vegetables and their health-related risks. PLoS One. 15(1), e0227551.
    10.
  10. Organization W.H. 2003. Diet, nutrition, and the prevention of chronic diseases: report of a joint WHO/FAO expert consultation. World Health Organization
    11.
  11. Jackson J., Patterson A. J., MacDonald-Wicks L., McEvoy M., 2017. The role of inorganic nitrate and nitrite in CVD. Nutr Res Rev. 30 (2), 247-264.
    12.
  12. Lovegrove J.A., Stainer A., Hobbs D.A., 2017. Role of flavonoids and nitrates in cardiovascular health. Proc Nutr Soc. 76(2), 83-95.
    13.
  13. Cancer I.A.f.R.O., 2010. Ingested nitrate and nitrite, and cyanobacterial peptide toxins. I.A.R.C. Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum. 94.
    14.
  14. Karwowska M., Kononiuk A., 2020. Nitrates/nitrites in food—Risk for nitrosative stress and benefits. Antioxidants. 9(3), 241.
    15.
  15. Kobayashi J., Ohtake K., Uchida H., 2015. NO-rich diet for lifestyle-related diseases. Nutrients. 7(6), 4911-4937.
    16.
  16. Xie L., Mo M., Jia H.X., Liang F., Yuan J., Zhu J., 2016. Association between dietary nitrate and nitrite intake and site-specific cancer risk: evidence from observational studies. Oncotarget. 7(35), 56915.
    17.
  17. Union E.C.J.O.J.E., 2006. Commission Regulation (E.C.) No 1881/2006 of December 19 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. 364 (365–324).
    18.
  18. Almasi A., Mohammadi M., Dargahi A., Amirian F., Motlagh Z.J., Ahmadidoust G., Noori M., 2018. Nitrogenous contamination in Iranian vegetables: a review. Pol J Environ Stud. 27(6), 2405-2416.
    19.
  19. Habermeyer M., Roth A., Guth S., Diel P., Engel K.H., Epe B., Fürst P., Heinz V., Humpf H.U., Joost H.G., 2015. Nitrate and nitrite in the diet: how to assess their benefit and risk for human health. Mol Nutr Food Res. 59(1), 106-128.
    20.
  20. Blekkenhorst L.C., Sim M., Bondonno C.P., Bondonno N.P., Ward N.C., Prince R.L., Devine A., Lewis J.R., Hodgson J.M., 2018. Cardiovascular health benefits of specific vegetable types: a narrative review. Nutrients. 595, 1-24.
    21.
  21. Kyriacou M.C., Soteriou G.A., Colla G., Rouphael Y., 2019. The occurrence of nitrate and nitrite in Mediterranean fresh salad vegetables and its modulation by preharvest practices and postharvest conditions. Food Chem. 285, 468-477.
    22.
  22. Quijano L., Yusà V., Font G., McAllister C., Torres C., Pardo O., 2017. Risk assessment and monitoring programme of nitrates through vegetables in the Region of Valencia (Spain). Food Chem Toxicol. 100, 42-49.
    23.
  23. Chan T.Y., 2011. Vegetable-borne nitrate and nitrite and the risk of methaemoglobinaemia. Toxicol Lett. 200 (1-2), 107-108.
    24.
  24. Bryan N., Alexander D., Coughlin J., Milkowski A., Boffetta P., 2012. Ingested nitrate and nitrite and stomach cancer risk: an updated review. Food Chem Toxicol. 50(10), 3646-65
    25.
  25. Gumanova N.G., Deev A.D., Klimushina M.V., Kots A.Y., Shalnova S.A., 2016. Serum nitrate and nitrite are associated with the prevalence of various chronic diseases except cancer. Int Angiol. 36(2), 160-166.
    26.
  26. Milkowski A., Garg H.K., Coughlin J.R., Bryan N.S., 2010. Nutritional epidemiology in the context of nitric oxide biology: A risk–benefit evaluation for dietary nitrite and nitrate. Nitric Oxide. 22(2), 110-119.
    27.
  27. Jones A.M., Thompson C., Wylie L.J., Vanhatalo A., 2018. Dietary nitrate and physical performance. Annu Rev Nutr. 38, 303-328.
    28.
  28. Tamme T., Reinik M., Roasto M., Juhkam K., Tenno T., Kiis A., 2006. Nitrates and nitrites in vegetables and vegetable-based products and their intakes by the Estonian population. Food Addit Contam. 23(4), 355-361.
    29.
  29. Williams G.M., Aardema M., Acquavella J., Berry S.C., Brusick D., Burns M.M., de Camargo J.L.V., Garabrant D., Greim H. A., Kier L.D., 2016. A review of the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate by four independent expert panels and comparison to the I.A.R.C. assessment. Crit Rev Toxicol. 46(sup1), 3-20.
    30.
  30. Fytianos K., Zarogiannis P., 1999. Nitrate and nitrite accumulation in fresh vegetables from Greece. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 62(2), 187-192.
    31.
  31. Matallana Gonzalez M., Martinez-Tome M., Torija Isasa M., 2010. Nitrate and nitrite content in organically cultivated vegetables. Food Addit Contam: Part B. 3(1), 19-29.
    32.
  32. Merino L., Darnerud P.O., Edberg U., Åman P., Castillo M., 2006. Levels of nitrate in Swedish lettuce and spinach over the past 10 years. Food Addit Contam. 23(12), 1283-1289.
    33.
  33. Shokrzadeh M., Shokravie M., Ebadi A., Babaee Z., Tarighati A., 2007. The measurement of nitrate and nitrite content in leek and spinach sampled from central cities of Mazandaran State of Iran. World Appl Sci J. 2(2), 121-124.
    34.
  34. Ayaz A., Topcu A., Yurttagul M., 2007. Survey of nitrate and nitrite levels of fresh vegetables in Turkey. J Food Sci Technol. 5 (2), 177-179.
    35.
  35. Authority E.F.S., 2008. Nitrate in vegetables‐Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Contaminants in the Food chain. E.F.S.A. J. 689, 1–79.
    36.
  36. Iammarino M., Di Taranto A., Cristino M., 2014. Monitoring of nitrites and nitrates levels in leafy vegetables (spinach and lettuce): a contribution to risk assessment. J Sci Food Agric. 94(4), 773-778.
    37.
  37. Croitoru M.D., Fülöp I., Miklos A., Hosszu B., Tătar V.L., Muntean D.L., 2015. Presence of nitrate and nitrite in vegetables grown for self-consumption. Farmacia. 63(4), 530-533.
    38.
  38. Jalini M., Doosti F., 2011. Evaluation of nitrate accumulation in potato and tomato. J Environ Sci. 50, 62-71.
    39.
  39. Saeedifar F., Ziarati P., Ramezan Y., 2014. Nitrate and Heavy Metal Contents in Eggplant (Solanum melongena) cultivated in the farmlands in the south of Tehran-Iran. Intl J Farm & Alli Sci. 3(1), 60-65.
    40.
  40. Shahlaei A., Ansari N.A., Dehkordie F.S., 2007. Evaluation of nitrate and nitrite content of Iran Southern (Ahwaz) vegetables during winter and spring of 2006. Asian J Plant Sci. 6(1), 97-12.
    41.
  41. Afali S., Elahi R., 2014. Measuring nitrate and nitrite concentrations in vegetables, fruits in Shiraz. J.A.S.E.M. 18(3), 451-457.
    42.
  42. Jakszyn P., Agudo A., Ibáñez R., García-Closas R., Pera G., Amiano P., González C.A., 2004. Development of a food database of nitrosamines, heterocyclic amines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. J Nutr. 134(8), 2011-2014.
    43.
  43. Nabrzyski M., Gajewska R., Ganowiak Z., 1990. Occurrence of nitrates and nitrites in bread and in some other products obtained from flour. Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig. 41(3-4), 187-193.
    44.
  44. Taghipour H., Norouz P., Dastgiri M.S., Bafandeh Y., Mahdavi R., Hashemimajd K., 2014. Estimating of Dietary Nitrate Consumption in Two Cities of Varzaghan and Parsabad with Different Occurrence of Gastric Cancer. JArUMS. 14(3), 266-273.
    45.
  45. Himeno M., Ishibashi T., Nakano S., Furuya K., Kigoshi T., Uchida K., Nishio M., 2003. A practical procedure for achieving a steady state of NOx concentration in plasma: with special reference to the NOx content of Japanese daily food. Tohoku J Exp Med. 199(2), 95-110.
    46.
  46. Ezeagu I.E., 2006. Contents of nitrate and nitrite in some Nigerian food grains and their potential ingestion in the diet-a short report. Pol J Food Nutr Sci. 15(3), 283-285.
    47.
  47. Bahadoran Z., Mirmiran P., Jeddi S., Azizi F., Ghasemi A., Hadaegh F., 2016. Nitrate and nitrite content of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, dairy products, meats and processed meats. J Food Compost Anal. 51, 93-105.
    48.
  48. Chou S.S., Chung J., Hwang D.F., 2003. A high performance liquid chromatography method for determining nitrate and nitrite levels in vegetables. J Food Drug Anal. 11(3), 233-238.
    49.
  49. Penttila P., 1998. Estimation of food additive and pesticide intakes by means of a stepwise method. Pirjo-Liisa Penttila, Mechelininkata 27 B22, Fin-00100 Helsinki, Finland. 0976-0976.
    50.
  50. Tamme T., Reinik M., Roasto M., Meremäe K., Kiis A., 2010. Nitrate in leafy vegetables, culinary herbs, and cucumber grown under cover in Estonia: content and intake. Food Addit Contam. 3(2), 108-113.
    51.

 

Related articles

The rights to this website are owned by the Raimag Press Management System.
Copyright © 2021-2024

Home| Login| About Us| Contact Us|
[فارسی] [العربية] [fa] [ar]