Mono-, di- and trimethylamine in human gastric fluid: potential substrates for nitrosodimethylamine formation

Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) is a potent carcinogen in a wide variety of animal species. In experimental animals, dimethylamine and nitrite, precursors of NDMA, are found in gastric fluid where the acidic conditions are suitable for formation of nitrosamines. In this study we measured the concentrations of mono-, di- and trimethylamine (MMA, DMA and TMA) in gastric fluid from humans, rats, dogs and ferrets, as well as in saliva, blood and urine from humans. Human gastric fluid contained 3.7 +/- 0.4 (SEM) nmol/ml MMA, 12.6 +/- 1.4 nmol/ml DMA and 2.0 +/- 0.4 nmol/ml TMA. MMA, DMA and TMA concentrations in human gastric fluid were similar to those present in human saliva and blood, but were much lower than those present in human urine. The concentrations of these amines in human gastric fluid were lower than those measured in gastric fluid from experimental animals. When we added sodium nitrite to human gastric fluid, NDMA was formed. We have shown that DMA is normally present in human gastric fluid, and that it can be nitrosated to form NDMA.