Study Links Nitrate Source—Not Just Amount—to Dementia Risk
A major long-term study involving more than 54,000 adults has revealed that where nitrate comes from may be more important than how much a person consumes when it comes to dementia risk.
The research found that participants who obtained more nitrate from vegetables—roughly equivalent to a cup of baby spinach per day—showed a lower risk of developing dementia. In contrast, higher intake of nitrate and nitrite from red meat, processed meat, and drinking water was associated with an increased dementia risk.
This suggests that dietary context and food source play a significant role in how nitrate affects brain health, potentially due to differences in how the body processes nitrate from different origins.