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. 2025 Mar 18;15(1):9321.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-92211-5.

Investigation of nitrate and nitrite in commercially available infant formulas and baby foods in Iran and estimation of human health risks

Mahmoud Taghavi  1 , Ali Abedi  2 , Ali Alami  3 , Mehdi Qasemi  4 , Ahmad Zarei  5
Affiliations

Investigation of nitrate and nitrite in commercially available infant formulas and baby foods in Iran and estimation of human health risks

Mahmoud Taghavi et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Levels of harmful nitrogen-containing substances have increased in many foods and drinks around the world. The impacts of dietary nitrate and nitrite on human health have been controversial topics for many years. The present study aimed to quantify the levels of nitrate and nitrite in infant formulas and baby foods sold in Iran and to estimate non-carcinogenic human health risk from exposure to these substances. The samples were gathered randomly and subsequently analyzed to detect nitrate and nitrite via Spectrophotometry. The ranges of nitrate and nitrite in the infant formulas were 0.221-1.347 (mean 0.645) mg/kg and 0.045-0.263 (mean 0.151) mg/kg, respectively. For baby foods, the ranges of nitrate and nitrite were 0.24-1.93 (mean 0.99) mg/kg and 0.04- 1.45 (0.36) mg/kg. Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) values of nitrate and nitrite in all the samples were below the acceptable daily intake (nitrate ADI = 3.7 mg/kg bw/day and nitrite ADI = 0.07 mg/kg bw/day established by FAO/WHO), showing that levels of these contaminants in infant formulas and baby foods may not cause toxicity in the infant and baby population. None of the infant formulas and baby foods in this study showed evidences of a non-cancer risk to the consumers. However, it is suggested that levels of nitrate and nitrite in these products and their related health risks be constantly monitored to prevent significant health hazards in the future.

Keywords: Baby foods; Infant formulas; Nitrate; Nitrite; Risk assessment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval: The ethics committee of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences (IR.GMU.REC.1398.045) approved all the procedures in the study. Consent to participate: Not applicable.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The chemical structure of, (1) nitrate and, (2) nitrite.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Box plots of nitrate and nitrite in infant formulas and baby foods.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Box plots of ADI values associated with nitrate (a), and nitrite (b) exposure through consumption of infant formulas and baby foods.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Box plots of HQ values associated with nitrate (a), and nitrite (b) through consumption of infant formulas and baby foods.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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