According to an Inserm study published on Tuesday in the journal Plos Medicine, more than 15,000 products containing nitrites or nitrate are currently circulating on the French market, reports Le Figaro.

The work reveals that the ingestion of these substances could promote type 2 diabetes. Last summer, a report by the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) had already pointed out the link between these compounds and the increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Present in ham or sausage, these substances could therefore lead to a "potentially increased risk of type 2 diabetes", confirms Bernard Srour, postdoctoral researcher at Inserm and co-author of the study.

However, diabetes can in turn lead to myocardial infarction, heart and kidney failure or even strokes.

In total, 3.5 million French people currently suffer from it.

27% risk of developing diabetes

Incorporated into charcuterie in the form of additives, nitrites and nitrates play the role of preservatives or colorants.

They are also naturally present in certain vegetables or in tap water.

For this new study, 104,000 French participants noted the foods and drinks they consumed while providing their quantity and brand.

They also indicated their weight, their medical history or their physical activity.

The nitrite content of the water consumed was also taken into account.

It emerged from this study that people with a high consumption of nitrites through food would be exposed to an average increased risk of 27% compared to people with a lower consumption.

It being specified that other confounding biases such as smoking, alcohol or sugary foods were included in the analyses.

Limit consumption

Thus, of the 104,000 participants in this study, nearly 1,000 have developed type 2 diabetes since 2009, indicates Europe 1. However, no excess risk has been noted with regard to nitrates.

Other studies will be necessary to confirm these results, specifies franceinfo.



As a reminder, ANSES advises limiting the consumption of charcuterie to 150 grams per week, i.e. around four slices of ham.

Finally, experts warn consumers against products “without added nitrites”, in which additives are replaced by vegetable broths containing… natural nitrites.

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