Average daily nitrate and nitrite intake in the Belgian population older than 15 years

Liesbeth Temme (1) , Stefanie Marie Vandevijvere (1) , Christine Vinkx (2) , Inge Huybrechts (3) , Leo Goeyens (1) , Herman van Oyen (1)

1 Epidemiology [Brussels]
2 Federal Public Service of Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment
3 UGENT - Universiteit Gent = Ghent University

The aim of this study was to assess the dietary intake of nitrate and nitrite in Belgium. The nitrate content of processed vegetables, cheeses and meat products was analyzed. These data were completed by data from non-targeted official control and from literature. In addition, the nitrite content of meat products was measured. Concentration data for nitrate and nitrite were linked to food consumption data of the Belgian Food Consumption Survey. This study included 3245 respondents, aged 15 years and older. Food intakes were estimated by a repeated 24-h recall using EPIC-SOFT. Only respondents with two completed 24-hour recalls (n=3083) were included in the analysis. For the intake assessment, average concentration data and individual consumption data were combined. Usual intake of nitrate/nitrite was calculated using the NUSSER method. The mean usual daily intake of nitrate was 1.38 mg/kg bodyweight (bw)/day and the usual daily intake at the 97.5 percentile was 2.76 mg/kg bw/day. Exposure of the Belgian population to nitrate at mean intake corresponded to 38% of the ADI (while 76% at the 97.5 percentile). For the average consumer half of the intake was derived from vegetables (especially lettuce) and 20% from water and water-based drinks. Average daily intake of nitrate and nitrite from cheese and meat products was low (respectively 0.2% and 6% of ADI at average intake). Scenario analyses with higher consumption of vegetables or higher nitrate concentration in tap water showed a significant higher intake of nitrate. Whether this is beneficial or harmful must be further assessed.

Mots clés: HPLC; total diet studies; nitrate; nitrite

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Liesbeth Temme, Stefanie Marie Vandevijvere, Christine Vinkx, Inge Huybrechts, Leo Goeyens, et al.. Average daily nitrate and nitrite intake in the Belgian population older than 15 years. Food Additives and Contaminants, 2011, 28 (9), pp.1193-1204. ⟨10.1080/19440049.2011.584072⟩. ⟨hal-00714934⟩