• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.291-306
• /
• 1984

The possibility of formation of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines such as nitrosodimethylamine(NDMA), nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) and nitrosopyrolidine (NPYR) during the fermentation of Kimchi was investigated. Three different types of Kimchi, formulated with chinese cabbage, red pepper powder and garlic, with or without one of both fermented shrimp and anchovy juice, were cured for 75 days at $5^{\circ}C$. The changes in contents of nitrates, nitrites, pH, ascorbic acid, secondary amines, trimethyl-aminoxide (TMAO), trimethylamine (TMA) and NDMA were analyzed periodically during the fermentation. TMAO, TMA. DMA, nitrate, nitrite and ascorbic acid were analyzed by colorimetric methods, and NDMA, NPYR and NDEA were determined by the method of GLC-TEA. Although the total secondary amines markedly increased, no significant changes in the levels of TMAO and TMA were observed during the fermentation Kimchi added with fermented shrimp or anchovy juice. The predominating component of secondary amines was confirmed to be dimethylamine by means of nitrosating technique coupled with gas chromatography. No appreciable increase in the level of nitrites was appeared although nitrate level in the Kimchi apparently decreased. Non detectable or trace level of nitrosamine formation was detected whereas the nitrates fairly decreased during the fermentation of Kimchi. This could be explained by the fact that the lack of nitrites was resulted in the system due to rapid consumption of nitrites formed from nitrates by the reactions with ascorbic acid and amino acids which have been known as inhibitors of nitrosation reaction.