Reduction of methemoglobin by means of glutamic acid

Simultaneous administration of sodium glutamate counteracts the effect of a lethal dose of sodium nitrite given to rats. The methmoglobin content of the blood is 40% lower than in unprotected animals in the terminal stage of nitrite poisoning. Addition of sodium nitrite to blood in vitro gives 63.3% conversion to methemoglobin, as compared with 19.8% when sodium glutamate is added simultaneously.