The effect of ascorbic acid on nitrite-induced methemoglobin formation in rats, sheep, and normal human erythrocytes

Interspecies differences were demonstrated with respect to the occurrence of sodium nitrite-induced methemoglobin (METHB) in the erythrocytes of rats, dorset sheep, and normal humans, with the rats displaying approximately 25-33% of the sensitivity of sheep and human erythrocytes. Ascorbic acid incubation along with the nitrite was able to significantly reduce METHB formation in a dose-dependent manner in both rats and humans but not in sheep.