Nitrite and Nitrate content of fruits and vegetables in Kermanshah (2010)

Background: High intake of Nitrite and Nitrate may threat human health. Fruits and leafy vegetables are the major source of these chemicals in our diet. There are limited studies on Nitrite and Nitrate content of fruits and vegetables in Iranian and we need to conduct more research on daily-consumed foods. This study aimed to determine Nitrite and Nitrate contents of distributed fruits and vegetables in Kermanshah (2010).

Methods: 108 fruit and vegetable samples were collected during three sessions from different socio–economic area of Kermanshah, Western Iran. Nitrite and Nitrate was assessed triplicate on each samples using Iranian standard protocols (NO.4106). Data was analyzed using one sample t-Test and ANOVA.

Results: Nitrate concentration of potato was higher than the recommender level of WHO (347.7±45.4 mg/kg, p<0.05). Leafy vegetables contained the highest and non-leafy vegetables contained lowest level of Nitrate, 673.8±50/6 and12.5±0.9 mg/kg respectively. Leafy vegetables showed lowest concentration and non-leafy vegetables showed highest concentration of nitrite 0.25±0.05 and 4.3±0.2 mg/kg respectively.

Conclusion: High level of nitrate in potato and vegetables may relate to extra consumption of fertilizer, environmental factors and non-mechanical agriculture in Iran. Periodical examination of nitrite and nitrate concentration in fruits and vegetables need to perform by Food and Drug Committee supervision to increase quality of foods.