Effects of sub-chronic nitrate exposure on the thyroidal function in humans

No experimental data exist on the thyroid toxicity of nitrate among humans. We aimed to show that no significant antithyroid effect could be observed after exposure to a three times the acceptable daily intake of nitrate in humans. In a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, 10 volunteers received 15 mg/kg sodium nitrate during 28 days whereas 10 control participants received distilled water. We performed 5- and 24-h measurements of thyroidal 131I uptake (RAIU) before and at the end of the exposure period. Thyroid hormone plasma concentrations of T3, rT3, T4, TSH were also measured prior to and after exposure. Differences in RAIU between the intervention and the control groups at 4 weeks were 3.4% (95% confidence interval −0.5 to 7.3, and 4.8% (95% confidence interval −1.4 to 11.0, respectively, for the 5- and 24-h RAIU measurement. Plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones stayed normal. In conclusion, no significant effects on thyroidal 131I uptake and thyroid hormones plasma concentrations were observed after sub-chronic exposition to 15 mg/kg sodium nitrate among humans.