Bioaccessibility of inorganic arsenic species in raw and cookedHizikia fusiformeseaweed

Samples of Hizikia fusiforme edible seaweed, a commercially available dried food with high concentrations of total arsenic (t-As) and inorganic arsenic (i-As), both raw and cooked (boiling at 100 °C, 20 min), were selected for the bioaccessibility study. Cooking caused a significant reduction in the concentrations of t-As (30–43%) and i-As (46–50%), despite which the i-As contents in the cooked product were high (42.7–44.6 µg g−1 seaweed). An in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (pepsin, pH 2, and pancreatin–bile extract, pH 7) was applied to the seaweed to estimate arsenic bioaccessibility (maximum soluble concentration in gastrointestinal medium) of t-As, i-As, arsenic(III) and arsenic(V).…

Cytotoxic effect of As(III) in Caco-2 cells and evaluation of its human intestinal permeability.

Inorganic arsenic has been classified as a carcinogen for humans (Group I). However, its transit across the human intestinal epithelium has not been characterized. Using Caco-2 cells, the thiol-redox balance and apparent permeability coefficients (P(app)) for As(III) in the apical to basolateral (AP-BL) and basolateral to apical (BL-AP) direction were evaluated. After As(III) exposure, GSH-induced synthesis was observed, increasing the GSH/GSSG ratio by elevating the As(III) concentration. The AP-BL permeabilities decreased as the As(III) concentrations increased, indicating the existence of a mediated transport mechanism. The (BL-AP)/(AP-BL) permeability ratios were higher than unity, sugg…

Evaluation of methylmercury cytotoxicity at intestinal level

Assessment of metal levels in foodstuffs from the Region of Valencia (Spain).

Graphical abstract

An engineered plant that accumulates higher levels of heavy metals than Thlaspi caerulescens, with yields of 100 times more biomass in mine soils

8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables.

Study of the factors influencing the bioaccessibility of 10 elements from chocolate drink powder

Abstract A risk/benefit assessment of chocolate drink powder has been conducted by evaluating the total contents and the bioaccessibilities of Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P and Zn. The bioaccessibility was studied considering the type of sample (traditional, light, diet and organic) and the different factors that may affect it, including physical-chemical parameters of the human digestive process (gastric pH, concentration of bile salts and presence of lipase) and the presence of dietary components (phytate, pectin, cellulose and tannin). The bioaccessibility varied greatly according to the sample type, being greater in the diet and organic samples, and on the element being considered (…

An approach to As(III) and As(V) bioavailability studies with Caco-2 cells

Foods and drinking water are the main sources of human exposure to inorganic arsenic [As(III) and As(V)]. After oral ingestion, the intestinal epithelium is the first barrier to absorption of these species. A human intestinal cell line (Caco-2) was used to evaluate cell retention and transport of As(III) (15.6-156.0 microM) and/or As(V) (15.4-170.6 microM). Cell monolayer integrity, cell viability, membrane damage and effects on cell metabolism were evaluated. Only the highest concentrations assayed [As(III): 156.0 microM; As(V): 170.6 microM] produced a cytotoxic effect with different cellular targets: As(III) altered the permeability of tight junctions, and As(V) caused uncoupling of the …

Mercury and selenium in fish and shellfish: Occurrence, bioaccessibility and uptake by Caco-2 cells

This study evaluates Hg and Se concentrations and bioaccessibility (element solubilised after simulated gastrointestinal digestion) in 16 raw seafood species consumed in Spain. The concentrations varied greatly (Hg, 3.8-1621 ng/g wet weight, ww; Se, 84-1817 ng/g ww). Only one sample of swordfish exceeded the Hg limit permitted in Spain (1mg/kg), and for this sample the Hg/Se molar ratio and Se Health Benefit Value food safety criteria also indicated the presence of a risk. Bioaccessibility of Hg (35-106%) and Se (17-125%) was very variable and the Hg/Se molar ratio in the bioaccessible fraction was less than one for all samples. Transport by Caco-2 cells, an intestinal epithelium model, was…

As2O3-induced oxidative stress and cycle progression in a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2)

Foods and drinking water are the main routes for human exposure to inorganic arsenic, the intestinal epithelium being the first barrier against such exogenous toxicants. The present study evaluates the effect of As(III) (0.5-25 microM) upon Caco-2 cells as an intestinal epithelia model. Cell viability, intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsim) changes, and cell cycle distribution in exposed cultures were evaluated. The intracellular production of ROS was seen to increase in a non-dose dependent manner at all concentrations tested, with impairment of cell mitochondrial enzyme function secondary to a loss of Deltapsim. Concentration…

Estimation of Arsenic Bioaccessibility in Edible Seaweed by an in Vitro Digestion Method

The aim of this study was to examine the bioaccessibility (maximum soluble concentration in gastrointestinal medium) of total (AsT) and inorganic (AsI) arsenic contents and the effect on them of cooking edible seaweed, a food of great interest because of its high As content. An in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (pepsin, pH 2, and pancreatin−bile extract, pH 7) was applied to obtain the mineral soluble fraction of three seaweeds (Hizikia fusiforme, Porphyra sp., and Enteromorpha sp.). AsT was determined by dry-ashing flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry. AsI was determined by acid digestion, solvent extraction, and flow injection hydride generation atomic absorp…

Bioavailability of inorganic arsenic in cooked rice: practical aspects for human health risk assessments.

Arsenic is present in rice grain mainly as inorganic arsenic. Little is known about the effect of cooking on inorganic arsenic content in rice and its bioavailability. This study evaluated total arsenic and inorganic arsenic in rice cooked with arsenic-contaminated water, the bioaccessibility of As(III) and As(V) after simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and the extent of arsenic retention and transport by Caco-2 cells used as a model of intestinal epithelia. After cooking, inorganic arsenic contents increase significantly. After simulated gastrointestinal digestion, the bioaccessibility of inorganic arsenic reached 63-99%; As(V) was the main species found. In Caco-2 cells, arsenic retent…