To Be-et, or Not to Be-et, That is the Question: The Role(s) of Nitrate and Nitrite in Health and Illness.

BACKGROUND: This manuscript addresses the multilevel role of dietary nitrate and nitrite in health and diseases because of increased interest in dietary supplementation.

METHOD: Review of research devoted to both beneficial but also possible deleterious effects of uncontrolled indigestion of red beet-root juice and other sources of high concentrated nitrate and nitrite.

RESULTS: The body of evidence strongly suggested that persons using nitrate/nitrite supplementation and particularly patients treated with sodium nitrite, having kidney disease or impaired methemoglobin reeducates activity, should closely monitor nitrate/nitrite indigestion.

CONCLUSION: Oral intake of red beet-root juice, green leaved veggies, cured meat, as well as urine excretion of nitrate/ nitrite, methemoglobin reeducates activity should be carefully assessed especially in patients treated with sodium nitrite.