Bioaccessibility data of potentially toxic elements in complementary foods for infants: A review

• Published in: Food research international 2023-12, Vol.174 (Pt 1), p.113485-113485, Article 113485
• Main Authors: Lima de Paiva, Esther, Ali, Sher, Reis Vasco, Elsa, Cristina Alvito, Paula, Augusto Fernandes de Oliveira, Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arsenic - analysis; bioaccessibility; Cadmium; Female; Gastrointestinal Tract - chemistry; Humans; in vitro protocols; Infant; infant food; Milk, Human - chemistry; potential toxic elements
• ISSN: 0963-9969; 1873-7145
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113485

[Display omitted] •Potentially toxic elements in complementary foods for infants pose health risks.•Complementary feeding is crucial for meeting infants' nutritional needs.•Potentially toxic elements in raw ingredients of infant foods is a concern.•Standardizing bioaccessibility assessment methods has gained attention.•Bioaccessibility studies of potentially toxic element in infant food is still need. 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.