title: Inhibition of nitrate-induced increase of plasma nitrite and methemoglobinemia in rats by simultaneous feeding of ascorbic acid or tocopherol.
abstract: The formation of plasma nitrite and levels of methemoglobin (MH) were studied after oral treatment with NaNO3 in female SD rats. No effects were observed when NaNO3 was administered in aqueous solution. However, feeding of diets containing an added 5% NaNO3 daily during 1 h significantly increased plasma NO2- and MH. These effects were significantly inhibited by the addition of ascorbic acid or of tocopherol to the NaNO3-containing diet. The transplacental transfer of NO2- was demonstrated as well as fetal methemoglobinemia.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007700:Kinetics; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009566:Nitrates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid