It is inevitable that you will be exposed to nitrites in your daily diet, and we often hear that “nitrites cause stomach cancer”. The most important thing is to know what factors increase nitrite levels in the body and how they relate to the development of stomach cancer.
Is there a link between nitrites and gastric cancer?
Although nitrite does not directly cause stomach cancer, it can react with amines or amides under acidic conditions to form nitrosamines and nitrosamides, which are both carcinogens that cause stomach cancer to develop. Amines or amides can be made from the protein decomposition of fish, eggs, meat, etc., which people often eat. Therefore, although small amounts of nitrates and nitrites are harmless, excessive intake can still increase the risk of gastric cancer.
Some chronic stomach diseases increase nitrite levels in the body
Nitrites in the body come from two sources, either directly from food or from the conversion of ingested nitrates by bacteria in the body. In healthy bodies, stomach acid inhibits the growth of bacteria in the stomach, which also blocks the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by bacteria.
However, in patients with chronic gastric disease, such as atrophic gastritis, which may lead to reduced acid production, increased levels of bacteria in the stomach may lead to elevated nitrite levels.
These foods are high in nitrites
- Deli meats with bright colors Adding nitrite to deli meats can make them brightly colored and tender, while significantly extending their shelf life, so many roasts and briskets contain high levels of nitrite. In addition, nitrates and nitrites are added as preservatives in foods such as sausage, ham, and fish.
- Pickles that are improperly pickled When pickles are pickled for too long or become rotten, the nitrite content increases significantly.
- Decaying vegetables or overnight leftovers Nitrates are found in almost all plants and are especially abundant in vegetables. Improper storage of decaying vegetables or overnight leftovers often breeds a variety of bacteria, and the bacteria tend to convert nitrates to nitrites, and the longer the time, the more nitrites are produced.
- Long-boiled hot pot soup As the hot pot boiling time is extended, nitrite in meat and vegetables will easily exceed the limit.
- Dried seafood Shrimp, dried fish, dried shellfish and other seafood products may not only be rich in nitrites, but because they are rich in protein, the simultaneous presence of both may increase the levels of nitrosamines and nitrosamides in the body, increasing the risk of gastric disease.
In summary, excessive intake of nitrates and nitrites can increase the risk of gastric cancer. To reduce the risk, you should be careful not to consume too much of these foods in your daily life, and you can consume some vitamin C, garlic, tea, vinegar, etc. to counteract the carcinogens such as nitrites that have already formed in your body. (Contributed by Jingxu Sun, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University)