title: Estimated dietary intake of nitrite and nitrate in Swedish children.
abstract: This study examines the intake of nitrate and nitrite in Swedish children. Daily intake estimates were based on a nationwide food consumption survey (4-day food diary) and nitrite/nitrate content in various foodstuffs. The mean intake of nitrite from cured meat among 2259 children studied was 0.013, 0.010 and 0.007 mg kg(-1) body weight day(-1) in age groups 4, 8-9 and 11-12 years, respectively. Among these age groups, three individuals (0.1% of the studied children) exceeded the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0.07 mg nitrite kg(-1) body weight day(-1). The mean intake of nitrate from vegetables, fruit, cured meat and water was 0.84, 0.68 and 0.45 mg kg(-1) body weight day(-1) for children aged 4, 8-9 and 11-12 years, respectively. No individual exceeded the ADI of 3.7 mg nitrate kg(-1) body weight day(-1). However, when the total nitrite intake was estimated, including an estimated 5% endogenous conversion of nitrate to nitrite, approximately 12% of the 4-year-old children exceeded the nitrite ADI. Thus, the intake of nitrite in Swedish children may be a concern for young age groups when endogenous nitrite conversion is included in the intake estimates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Darnerud
authors.forename: N-G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Ilbäck
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merino
mesh_terms: D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products / Q000032:analysis; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D009573:Nitrites / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D009603:Nitroso Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013548:Sweden; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D005520:Food Preservatives; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009603:Nitroso Compounds; D014867:Water