Contenido de plomo y cadmio en aceites de girasol

We have studied the lead and cadmium content in 21 samples of sunflower oil from Andalucía (Southern Spain). These elements are toxicological importance and the sunflower oil is widely consumed in Spain. Samples were mineralized with nitric acid and vanadium pentoxide as catalyst, and ana lyzed using electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectroscopy. The temperature-time programme for the graphite furnace was optimized for each element, and the accuracy, precision, sensitivity and detection limit of the method were evaluated. Concentrations of lead ranged from not detectable to 167.58 μg/kg and cadmium concentrations ranged from 0.87 to 8.30 μg/kg. The data obtained are not excessive and similar to those mentioned by other authors; however, one sample of the total analyzed surpassed the limit of 0.1 ppm of lead proposed by the Spanish and European Legislation. A statistical significative correlation has been established between Pb and Cd levels (p < 0.05). The contribution of the sunflower oil to Pb and Cd dietary intake has been estimated as 0.84 and 0.09 μg/day, respectively.Se ha determinado el contenido de plomo y cadmio en 21 muestras de aceite de girasol, todas ellas producidas en Andalucía (Sur de España). Ambos elementos tienen una gran importancia toxicológica y el aceite de girasol es muy consumido en España. Las muestras han sido mineralizadas con ácido nítrico, utilizando pentóxido de vanadio como catalizador, y analizadas mediante espectroscopia de absorción atómica con atomización electrotérmica. Se ha optimizado el programa temperatura-tiempo del horno de grafito para cada elemento y se ha evaluado la exactitud, precisión, sensibilidad y límite de detección del método. Las concentraciones de plomo han oscilado entre no detectables y 167.58 μg/kg y las concentraciones de cadmio entre 0.87 y 8.30 μg/kg. Estos datos no resultan excesivos y concuerdan con los aportados por otros autores; no obstante, una de las muestras analizadas supera el límite máximo de 0.1 ppm de Pb establecido en las Legislaciones Española y Europea. Se ha comprobado una correlación estadísticamente significativa entre los niveles de Pb y de Cd (

Content and bioaccessibility of aluminium in duplicate diets from southern Spain

Aluminium is found naturally in foods and beverages, but levels increase notably during processing, packaging, storage, and cooking, as a consequence of its presence in food additives and the wide use of aluminium utensils and vessels. Dietary intake of Al was estimated in 2 population groups in southern Spain (families and university students) in a duplicate diet sampling study. Diets were sampled for 7 consecutive days, and Al was determined in acid-mineralized samples with electrothermal atomization-atomic absorption spectrometry (ETA-AAS). Mean values for Al intake were 2.93 and 1.01 mg/d in families and students, respectively, ranging from 0.12 to 10.00 mg/d. Assuming an average adult weight of 60 kg, the mean dietary exposures to aluminium were 0.34 and 0.12 mg/kg body weight/week in these groups, which amounted to 17% and 6% of the 2 mg/kg body weight estimated as the tolerable weekly intake by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. Bioaccessibility of dietary Al tested with in vitro studies ranged from 0.30 to 17.26% (absorbable fraction). The highest aluminium intakes were observed in subjects consuming diets with a low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, which were associated to high consumption of processed and canned food. On the contrary, subjects consuming diets with a high adherence to the Mediterranean diet patterns showed the lowest Al intakes. The present findings are useful for giving both a reliable estimate of total aluminium dietary intake and tolerable intake levels according to usual dietary habits. © 2013 Institute of Food Technologists®.The present study was supported by AGR141 Research Group, financed by Junta de Andaluc´ıa (Government of Spain).Peer Reviewe

Assessing the dietary intake of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and copper in institutionalised children and adolescents from Guatemala. Contribution of nutritional supplements

In childhood and adolescence an adequate mineral intake is essential for normal growth and immune function, and to prevent chronic diseases in adulthood. The aim of this study was to analyse the dietary intake of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn and Cu in children and adolescents from an orphanage-school in Guatemala and to assess the mineral contribution of nutritional supplements used by this population. Mineral content was analysed in nutritional supplements, bioaccesible fractions obtained after an in vitro gastrointestinal method, and diets sampled by a 7-day duplicate diet study. The average mineral content in the duplicate diets, including supplements, was (mg/d): Ca 452, Mg 230, Fe 25, Zn 8 and Cu 0.22. Especially Ca and Cu values were below recommended daily intakes. The content of these minerals in the nutritional supplements (mg/serving) was 49–112 for Ca, 1.2–3.8 for Fe, 24–47 for Mg, 0.7–4.16 for Zn and 0.08-0.23 for Cu. A great proportion of dietary minerals was provided by supplements, the contribution of which was: Ca 53.1%, Mg 58.4%, Fe 27.6%. Zn 82.2% and Cu 98.5%. Mineral bioaccessibility in supplements was particularly low for Ca and, to a lesser extent, for Fe and Zn. In spite of the high supplement consumption (up to 4 servings/d) important mineral deficiencies were detected in the diet of institutionalised children. Findings suggest that formulation and nutritional values of supplements used in Latin America should be carefully reviewed, in order to be a useful tool in the prevention and treatment of hidden hunger.The present study was supported by a CICODE-University of Granada (Spain) international cooperation project of and by the Research Groups AGR141 and AGR177, financed by Junta de Andalucía.Peer Reviewe

Healthy properties of green and white teas: an update

Green tea has been consumed for centuries in Japan, China and Morocco. White tea, which is considered a variety of green tea, is mostly consumed in China and is very appreciated for its flavor. Currently the consumption of both types of tea has been extended to the western countries even as a functional ingredient. A group of polyphenols called catechins stands out among their bioactive components, the most abundant being the (-) epigallocatechin gallate, with high antioxidant power. Teas also contain other phenolic compounds such as gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic or cinnamic acids, quercetin and proanthocyanidols, caffeine, theophylline, l-theanine and minerals such as fluorine, manganese or chromium. Investigations have mainly been focused on their antioxidant potential and their implication in the prevention and treatment of degenerative diseases. Several studies have evaluated their role in cardiovascular diseases, body weight control, bone mass increase, protection against neurodegenerative diseases and improvement of type 2 diabetes, among other pathologies. The main points of controversy are the design and interpretation of epidemiological and human intervention studies and the lack of information on catechins availability, metabolism and biotransformation. This review compiles and analyzes the latest peer-reviewed papers published from 2002 up to February 2017, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses.This work was supported by the project AGL2014-53895-R from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Fund of Regional Development (FEDER).Peer Reviewe

Sanitary and nutritional characterization of honeybee colonies in eucalyptus grandis plantations

In Uruguay, many beekeepers transport their colonies to Eucalyptus grandis plantations at the end of the summer and autumn, obtaining important honey harvests. However, at the end of the flowering period the colonies become extremely weakened undergoing high levels of mortality. Nutritional and health problems could explain the weakening of colonies. In order to find out the causes for this weakening, colonies of the same size were taken to an E. grandis plantation, split up in three groups differentiated by the availability of pollen. Throughout the flowering period we registered: the botanical origins and crude protein content of the incoming pollen, the body protein of the bees, the infection by Nosema ceranae and the infestation of Varroa destructor, the brood area and the production of honey. The most important findings were: i) the sustained decline in botanical diversity of pollen as the flowering period of E. grandis advanced until only pollen from this species remained; ii) pollen from E. grandis presented crude protein values close to 30%, but these gradually diminished reaching values lower than 20% towards the end of the flowering period; iii) those colonies which initially counted on pollen reserves presented bees with higher body protein a few days after settling in the plantation and lower levels of infection with N. ceranae during most of the flowering period; iv) pollen availability did not affect levels of infection by V. destructor, size of the brood area or honey production. Bee's nutritional deficit during E. grandis flowering could generate adequate conditions for the multiplication of N. ceranae. At the end of the Eucalyptus' flowering period colonies presented on average more than 90% of foraging workers infected with N. ceranae and 12% infection of adult bees with V. destructor. Incidence of both pathogens in weakened bees could explain colony losses.En Uruguay muchos apicultores trasladan sus colonias a las forestaciones de Eucalyptus grandis al final del verano y en otoño obteniendo importan- tes cosechas de miel. Sin embargo, cuando fina- liza la floración las colonias se encuentran muy debilitadas, sobreviniendo una elevada mortali- dad. Problemas nutricionales y sanitarios podrían explicar el debilitamiento de las colonias. Para averiguar las causas del debilitamiento se llevaron colonias de igual tamaño a una forestación de E. grandis, separadas en tres grupos diferenciados por la disponibilidad de polen. A lo largo del periodo de floración se registró: el origen botánico y el contenido de proteína cruda del polen que ingre- saba en las colmenas, la proteína corporal de las abejas, la infección por Nosema ceranae y la infestación por Varroa destructor, el área de cría y la producción de miel. Los resultados más importantes hallados fueron: i) la sostenida dismi- nución de la diversidad botánica del polen a me- dida que transcurría el periodo de floración de E. grandis hasta quedar únicamente el polen de esta especie; ii) el polen de E. grandis presentó valores de proteína bruta cercanos al 30%, pero fue disminuyendo paulatinamente hasta alcanzar un valor inferior a 20% al final de la floración; iii) las colonias que contaban inicialmente con reservas de polen presentaron abejas con mayor proteína corporal pocos días después de llegar a la fores- tación y menor infestación de N. ceranae durante la mayor parte del periodo de floración; iv) la disponibilidad de polen no incidió en la infestación de V. destructor, el área de cría y la producción de miel. El déficit nutricional de las abejas durante la floración de E. grandis podría generar las condi- ciones adecuadas para la multiplicación de N. ceranae. Al final de la floración del eucalipto las colonias presentaron promedialmente más del 90% de las abejas pecoreadoras infectadas con N. ceranae y 12% de V. destructor en las abejas adultas. La incidencia de ambos patógenos sobre las abejas debilitadas podría explicar la pérdida de colonias