Patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging ( CMR ) at 6-8 days and at 6 months and serial blood sampling was performed over 72 h for the measurement of plasma creatine kinase ( CK ) and Troponin I. Myocardial infarct size ( extent of late gadolinium enhancement at 6-8 days by CMR-the primary endpoint ) did not differ between nitrite and placebo groups after adjustment for area at risk , diabetes status , and centre ( effect size -0.7 % 95 % CI : -2.2 % , +0.7 % ; P = 0.34 ) .