Bioaccessibility data of potentially toxic elements in complementary foods for infants: A review
Esther Lima de Paivaa b✉, Sher Alib, Elsa Reis Vascoc, Paula Alvitoc, Carlos Augusto Fernandes de Oliveirab
- aFaculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering - University of São Paulo (FZEA/USP), Rua Duque de Caxias, 13635-900 Pirassununga, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: elpaiva@usp.br
- bFaculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering - University of São Paulo (FZEA/USP), Rua Duque de Caxias, 13635-900 Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
- cNational Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- ✉Corresponding author
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Abstract
The introduction of complementary foods (CFs) is a critical step in an infant's transition to solid foods, providing essential nutrients beyond breast milk. However, CFs may contain potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as arsenic and cadmium that pose health risks to infants. In this context, understanding the bioaccessibility of PTEs is vital as it determines the fraction of a contaminant released from the food matrix and available for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Efforts have been made to standardize the assessment methodology for bioaccessibility, ensuring consistent and reliable data. Moreover, regulatory agencies have established guidelines for PTEs levels in food. However, important gaps still exist, which motivates many research opportunities on this topic.
TL;DREfforts have been made to standardize the assessment methodology for bioaccessibility, ensuring consistent and reliable data, but important gaps still exist, which motivates many research opportunities on this topic. (Semantic Scholar)