The Relation between Dietary Nitrate and Nitrite Intake and Obesity Phenotypes: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Background and purpose: Obesity is one of the major health problems that is highly prevalent in the world. There is controversial evidence about the association between dietary nitrate and nitrite and obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary nitrate and nitrite intake and incidence of obesity phenotypes. Materials and methods: A prospective approach was used in this research that was conducted in participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. The study included 1756 males and females and their nutritional, anthropometry, and biochemical information were recorded every three years and followed for six years. Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was administered to collect the data. General obesity phenotype, abdominal obesity phenotype, Hypertriglyceridemic-Waist Phenotype (HTW), and body adiposity index phenotype were determined. Then, the incidence of obesity phenotypes across tertiles and intakes of nitrate/nitrite was assessed using regression logistic test. Results: The cumulative incidence of HTW phenotypes was 25% after 6 years. The risk of HTW in highest tertiles compared to the lowest tertiles of total nitrate intake and intake of nitrate and nitrite through fruits decreased insignificantly by 6% (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.72 - 1.17), 5% (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.73 - 1.24), and 10% (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.69 - 1.17), respectively. Conclusion: Dietary nitrate and nitrite had no effect on the occurrence of HTW, BMI, and general and abdominal obesity phenotypes.