The influence of dietary nitrate on nitrate concentration in egg yolk and albumen.
Sodium nitrate (from 0 to 2,000 p.p.m.) was added to the drinking water of 32-week old S.C. White  Leghorn pullets. Eggs collected once a week for 8 weeks were analyzed for nitrate content. Increasing levels of nitrate in the drinking water resulted in increasing levels of nitrate in albumen and yolk. Higher levels of nitrate were found in the yolk than in the albumen. When birds were started on the experiment, nitrate in the drinking water was reflected by immediate increases in nitrate content of the eggs. The nitrate content of eggs from birds receiving 1,000 p.p.m. NaNO3 (728 p.p.m. NO3-) exceeded the 45 p.p.m. permissible level of nitrate in drinking water for human beings.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D004529:Egg White / Q000032:analysis*; D004530:Egg Yolk / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water
D009566:Nitrates; D014867:Water