Swedish Study Links High Nitrite Intake to 50% Higher Distal Colon Cancer Risk in Men
Updated
Updated · Medscape · Aug 18
Swedish Study Links High Nitrite Intake to 50% Higher Distal Colon Cancer Risk in Men
1 articles · Updated · Medscape · Aug 18
Summary
82,009 Swedish adults tracked from 1998 to 2022 showed higher dietary nitrite intake was tied to more colorectal cancer in men, with the highest-intake group facing a 23% higher overall risk.
The strongest signal appeared in distal colon cancer, where men in the top nitrite quintile had a 50% higher risk; no significant link emerged for women.
3,170 colorectal cancer cases were recorded over 1.6 million person-years, and researchers found no association between dietary nitrate intake and colorectal cancer risk.
Men got about half their nitrite from meat at baseline, including 26% from processed meats, while women got 68% from vegetables—one possible clue to the sex difference the authors said needs more study.
The prospective Karolinska-led study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, relied on self-reported diet data, so exposure misclassification and unmeasured confounding remain key limits.