The emerging studies surrounding the nitrate debate in this Research Topic, and beyond, are charting the health impact of dietary nitrate and nitrite altering our attitude toward these compounds. However, both the health benefits and potential negative effects point to more sustainable and healthy eating practices: i.e., consuming more vegetables and fewer processed meats. While the nitrate debate is yet to be solved, it is reasonably clear that the food matrix, particularly the co-existing compounds in the wholefood, should be considered.
Zhong, L., Hodgson, J. M., Lewis, J. R., et al. (2025). Nitrate and nitrite food composition database: An update and extensive deep dive. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 121(5), 1124–1136. View Full Document ↗
Zhong, L., Liu, A. H., Blekkenhorst, L. C., et al. (2022). Development of a food composition database for assessing nitrate and nitrite intake from animal-based foods. Molecular nutrition & food research, 66(1), e2100272. View Full Document ↗
Zhong, L., Blekkenhorst, L. C., Bondonno, N. P., et al. (2022). A food composition database for assessing nitrate intake from plant-based foods. Food chemistry, 394, 133411. View Full Document ↗
Blekkenhorst, L. C., Prince, R. L., Ward, N. C., et al. (2017). Development of a reference database for assessing dietary nitrate in vegetables. Molecular nutrition & food research, 61(8), 10.1002/mnfr.201600982. View Full Document ↗
Pokharel, P., Blekkenhorst, L., Bondonno, C., et al. (2025). Associations of vegetable and potato intakes with markers of type 2 diabetes risk in the AusDiab Cohort. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 110(4), e1068–e1083. View Full Document ↗
Bondonno, N. P., Lewis, J. R., Blekkenhorst, L. C., et al. (2023). Habitual nitrate intake and cognition in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study of ageing. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 82(OCE3), E212. View Full Document ↗
Bräunlich, K., Blekkenhorst, L. C., Bondonno, C. P., et al. (2024). Source-specific nitrate intake and all-cause mortality in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1451061. View Full Document ↗
Bondonno, C. P., Blekkenhorst, L. C., Lewis, J. R., et al. (2025). Associations between source-specific nitrate intakes and inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 84(OCE2), E144. View Full Document ↗
Bondonno, C. P., Yang, X., Croft, K. D., et al. (2012). Nitrate causes a dose-dependent augmentation of nitric oxide status in healthy women. Food & Function, 3(7), 668–673. View Full Document ↗
Bondonno, C. P., Blekkenhorst, L. C., Lewis, J. R., et al. (2013). Dietary nitrate, nitric oxide, and cardiovascular health. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 53(9), 1009–1027. View Full Document ↗
Bondonno, C. P., Blekkenhorst, L. C., Lewis, J. R., et al. (2017). Vegetable-derived bioactive nitrate and cardiovascular health. Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 61, 83–91. View Full Document ↗
Bondonno, C. P., Blekkenhorst, L. C., Lewis, J. R., et al. (2024). Editorial: Dietary nitrate – friend or foe? Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, 1424859. View Full Document ↗
Zhong, L., Hodgson, J. M., Lewis, J. R., Blekkenhorst, L. C., Bondonno, N. P., Sim, M., Woodman, R. J., & Bondonno, C. P. (2025). Nitrate and nitrite food composition database: An update and extensive deep dive. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 121(5), 1124-1136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.01.031