Reduction of benzo[a]pyrene-induced forestomach neoplasms in mice given nitrite and dietary soy sauce.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of nitrite (0.05% in drinking-water) and soy sauce (20% in a refined diet) on the initiation and promotion of benzo[a]pyrene-induced forestomach neoplasia in ICR mice. In two experiments nitrite and soy sauce together significantly reduced the number of neoplasms per animal. Soy sauce (without nitrite) produced a smaller apparent (non-significant) reduction whereas nitrite (without soy sauce) had no effect. Evidence suggested that soy sauce might contain factors that reduce calorie absorption or utilization, but this observation was independent of the inclusion of nitrite in the drinking-water and therefore could not by itself explain the significant reduction in neoplasms in mice given soy sauce plus nitrite. Protection appeared to primarily involve the tumour promotion stage.