Development of a reference database for assessing dietary nitrate in vegetables.

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Food Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Dietary nitrate from vegetables is linked to short-term vascular health benefits.
• Long-term health outcomes associated with vegetable nitrate intake require further investigation.
• A comprehensive database of vegetable nitrate content is needed for accurate dietary analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a comprehensive database of nitrate content in vegetables.
• To enable reliable quantification of dietary nitrate intake from food records.
• To facilitate research on the long-term health effects of vegetable nitrate consumption.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search (1980-2016) was conducted across multiple databases.
• Data from 255 publications on 178 vegetables and 22 herbs/spices were compiled.
• The database was validated by estimating vegetable nitrate intake using 24-hour dietary recalls and food frequency questionnaires.

Main Results:

• The database contains 4237 records, with nitrate content varying widely among vegetables (e.g., Chinese flat cabbage vs. corn).
• Significant correlations were found between urinary nitrate excretion and dietary intake estimates from 24-hour recalls and food frequency questionnaires.
• Dietary nitrate intake estimations showed good reproducibility over time using food frequency questionnaires.

Conclusions:

• The developed database provides a robust tool for quantifying dietary nitrate from diverse vegetables.
• This resource can be utilized in human studies to explore associations between nitrate intake and health outcomes.
• The database supports research into the long-term impact of vegetable consumption on health.