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# Processed meat linked to thyroid cancer
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/processed_meat_linked_to_thyroid_cancer_1222120314/
- Published: 2012-12-22T16:13:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:09:40.000Z
- Description: Among 73,317 women in the Shanghai Women's Health Study followed 11 years, those with the highest dietary nitrite intake were twice as likely to develop thyroid cancer as those with the lowest. Nitrate intake showed no association; 164 cases were identified.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Food, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

BY David Liu, PHD

Saturday Dec 22, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Some food consumers may who visit foodconsumer.org often may have known that exposure to x-ray such as dental x-ray can increase risk of thyroid cancer. A new study in International Journal of Cancer shows that dietary nitrite used in processed meat products may also increase the risk.

B. Aschebrook-Kilfoy from Department of Health Studies, The University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois and colleagues conducted the study and found those who had highest intakes of dietary nitrite were twice as likely to develop thyroid cancer, compared with those who had the lowest intakes.

The study involved data on dietary intake of nitrite and nitrate obtained through a food frequency questionnaire from 73,317 women aged 4 to 70 enrolled in the Shanghai Women's Health Study in 1996 and 2000\. During a 11-year follow-up, 164 incident cases of thyroid cancer were identified. 

The researchers found no association between nitrate intake and risk of thyroid cancer, but those in the highest quartile of nitrite intake were 100% increased risk of developing thyroid cancer, compared with those in the lowest quartile.

The intake of nitrite from processed meat was more significant and those in the highest quartile of intake were as twice as likely to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer, compared with those in the lowest quartile.

The study is not a trial, which could never be performed because of the known toxicity of the preservatives, and the results of the current study provide a suggestion only. However, the suggestion may be actually a fact because nitrates and nitrites can be converted into cancer-causing compounds known as N-nitroso compounds, which have been known to cause other types of cancer already.

What food consumers can do to minimize the risk? The best option is to avoid processed meats such as hot dogs, luncheon meat, sausages, ham, bacon and other preserved meats with cancer causing preservatives like nitrites.

It is hard to completely avoid processed meat for many people who enjoy this type of food. In this case, taking a high dose of vitamin C supplement, or taking high vitamin C fruit juice can help prevent the carcinogenesis induced by nitrite triggered N-nitroso compounds. Because there is no guarantee of any vitamin C in any fruit juice, taking vitamin C supplements regularly is an legitimate option. Vitamin C may inhibit the formation of N-nitroso compounds in vivo.

Of course, to prevent thyroid cancer, exposure of the thyroid gland to x-ray used in dental x-ray, medical diagnostics and cancer treatment should be avoided, particularly at a young age. Some times, use of x-ray is unavoidable. In this case, you need to ask doctors and dentists to use some protection to shield the neck from x-ray exposure.