Diabetes is a chronic condition that, if not properly managed, can lead to serious health problems. Researchers are still trying to figure out what factors put people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A recent study published in PLOS Medicine looked at nitrate and nitrite intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes. They discovered that consuming more nitrites was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, but consuming nitrates was not.
Nitrates and nitrites occur naturally in certain foods, according to the National Cancer Institute. They may also be present in the soil and water. Food processors and manufacturers may occasionally add nitrates and nitrites to foods to help prevent spoilage. They can, for example, be added to processed meats such as salami or ham. It is unclear what the full risks of nitrate and nitrite consumption are. Higher nitrate intake, for example, may increase some people's risk of developing certain cancers. Researchers are still trying to figure out how nitrates and nitrites relate to other disorders and conditions. Could nitrates or nitrites, for example, increase the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes?
The researchers in this study looked at nitrate and nitrite exposure and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In their analysis, they included over 100,000 adults. Almost 80% of this group was female. They used 24-hour dietary recalls to assess participants' nitrate and nitrite exposure. They tracked participants for an average of 7.3 years, with regular check-ins. During the study, researchers identified 969 cases of type 2 diabetes. They gathered information on a variety of nitrite and nitrate exposures, including total nitrates and nitrites, food and water-derived nitrates and nitrites, and additive-derived nitrates and nitrites.
According to study authors, Dr. Mathilde Touvier, head of the Nutrition Epidemiology Research Team EREN-CRESS, Inserm, INRAE, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, and Dr. Bernard Srour, Ph.D., PharmD, MPH, a scientist with EREN-CRESS, Inserm, INRAE, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, the study discovered that nitrite consumption may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, researchers discovered no link between nitrates and disease risk. They discovered that total nitrites, as well as nitrite sources in food and water, may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. They also discovered that nitrite additives, particularly sodium nitrite, may raise the risk of type 2 diabetes.
"These results provide a new piece of evidence in the context of current discussions regarding the need for a reduction of nitrite additives' use in processed meats by the food industry and could support the need for better regulation of soil contamination by fertilizers," they added. Meanwhile, several public health authorities around the world have already advised citizens to limit their consumption of foods containing controversial additives such as sodium nitrite."
There were some limitations to the study. According to Jessica Norris, researchers first relied on self-reporting by participants, which introduces the possibility of data collection errors. Second, the study cannot conclusively prove that nitrite consumption causes type 2 diabetes. Researchers acknowledge the possibility of selection bias and the inability to validate nitrate and nitrite exposures reported by participants. There is also the possibility of residual confounding. Researchers acknowledge that they may not have detected every case of diabetes among their participants. The sample's diversity makes it even more difficult to generalize results or apply them to everyone. It also suggests that researchers conduct additional research.
According to Nancy Mitchell, an on-study author and registered nurse with years of experience working with geriatric diabetes patients, while diet is a major contributor to Type 2 diabetes, we often can't pinpoint one specific food item as the cause of a chronic condition. In reality, diabetes is caused by a combination of poor dietary choices, underlying stress, sedentary habits, and other factors. Chronic diseases are multifaceted.
ZDS DMO II Marie-Claire Gaas, RND
References:
1. Type 2 diabetes: Consuming high levels of nitrites may increase risk
By Jessica Norris on January 19, 2023 — Fact checked by Jennifer Chesak
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/type-2-diabetes-nitrites-may-increase-disease-risk
2. Dietary exposure to nitrites and nitrates in association with type 2 diabetes risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004149
3. Nitrates, nitrites, and their dangers
National Cancer Institute
