Alpha-tocopherol: uses in preventing nitrosamine formation.

alpha-Tocopherol has been evaluated as a nitrite scavenger for the prevention of nitrosamine formation in a model system and under practical conditions. alpha-Tocopherol was found to react with nitrosating agents in both lipophilic and aqueous environments. The use of alpha-tocopherol was shown to inhibit aminopyrene-nitrite induced hepatotoxicity in rats and to reduce the amount of NDMA formed in cigarette smoke. Of primary interest is the finding of a significant reduction of NPYR formation in fried bacon. Nitrosamine inhibition was greater with alpha-tocopherol used in combination with sodium ascorbate than with sodium ascorbate alone.