Effect of Sodium Nitrite on the Destruction of Thiamine

Abstract

The effect of sodium nitrite on the destruction of thiamine was investigated. When sodium nitrite-containing thiamine solution was treated by the condition of heating at 75°C for 60min, elemental sulfur and 4-methyl-5-(β-hydroxyethyl) thiazole were identified, and thiochrome was estimated. When sodium nitrite-free thiamine solution was heated at 75°C for 60min, 4-methyl-5-(β-hydroxyethyl) thiazole was a main product, and elemental sulfur and thiochrome were not produced. From these results, it showed that elemental sulfur and thiochrome were produced from thiamine by the effect of sodium nitrite.