Analysis and evaluation of in vitro bioaccessibility of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in plant-based milks

• Published in: Food chemistry 2024-12, Vol.460 (Pt 1), p.140538, Article 140538
• Main Authors: Romero-Sánchez, Iván, Alonso-Núñez, Irene, Gracia-Lor, Emma, Madrid-Albarrán, Yolanda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aflatoxin B1 - analysis; Aflatoxin B1 - metabolism; Aflatoxins; Aflatoxins - analysis; Aflatoxins - metabolism; Animals; Avena - chemistry; Avena - metabolism; Bioaccessibility; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Digestion; Food Contamination - analysis; HPLC-MS; Humans; In vitro digestion; Milk - chemistry; Milk - metabolism; Oryza - chemistry; Oryza - metabolism; Plant-based milks; Prunus dulcis - chemistry; Soy Milk - chemistry; Soy Milk - metabolism; Tandem Mass Spectrometry
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140538

Plant-based milks emerge as a healthy and vegan alternative for human diet, but these foodstuffs are susceptible to be contaminated by aflatoxins. A new method based on SPE and HPLC-MS/MS analysis was optimized and validated to test the presence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 analysis in almond, oat, rice and soy commercial milks. Moreover, aflatoxin bioaccessibility was evaluated through an in vitro digestion assay applied to each type of spiked milk. Aflatoxins B1, B2 and G1 were detected in one soy milk sample below the LOQ, fulfilling the limits stablished by the European Legislation. The final bioaccessibility percentages were highly dependent on the type of mycotoxin and sample matrix, the highest and the lowest values were obtained for AFB2 (82%–92%) and AFG1 (15%–30%), whereas AFB1 (28%–50%) and AFG2 (32%–76%) values resulted more influenced by the plant-based milk matrix. [Display omitted] •SPE method was developed to analyse aflatoxins B and G from plant-based milks.•Aflatoxins B1, B2 and G1 were detected below LOQ in a soy milk sample.•Duodenal bioaccessibility was highly influenced by the aflatoxin structures.•The highest and the lowest bioaccessibility values were obtained for AFB2 and AFG1.•AFB1 and AFG2 bioaccessibility were more influenced by the milk composition.