DETERMINATION OF CALCIUM CONTENT IN DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Calcium is a macro element that is very important for the human body: its content and circulation in the body is large, it serves as the electrolyte, it has a building role and participates in the process of metabolism. The European Union, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Food and Drug (Food and Drug Administration, FDA) gave the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances,) for this macro element. The absorption and bioavailability of the calcium may vary depending on a number of factors, and because all of the foregoing it is consumed by means of different supplements. The aim of this study was to determine the content of calcium in the various diet products using the volumetric analytical method of analysis. Supplements that were analyzed are divided into two groups. The first group consists supplements in which the calcium is present in the form of different chemical compounds, and the second group consists of supplements of a number of different manufacturers in which the calcium is in the form of calcium carbonate. Calcium content, obtained by applying the method above, which ranged from 95.11% to 99.80% compared to the theoretical value. Results were analyzed using the t-test, while not producing a statistically significant difference

The frequency of presence of aflatoxin B1 in foodstuffs of vegetable origin

Cereals, nuts and spices are foods that are used in the daily human diet. According to FAO the average consumption of foods of vegetable origin in people’s diet is increasing. Due to inadequate conditions during storage of foods of vegetable origin, there is possibility of contamination by mold that produces mycotoxins. Since the intake of these products in organism has been increased, there is a risk of exposure to mycotoxins and their harmful effect on the consumers’ health. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of aflatoxin B1 in products of vegetable origin (cereals, nuts and spices). Aflatoxin B1 was determined by enzyme-imunochemical method (ELISA), using commercial kit. 38 samples were tested. In 25 analyzed samples, the content of aflatoxin B1 was higher than 1 μg/kg (1 μg/kg is limit of detection). Out of the total number of tested samples, in 18 samples the content of aflatoxin B1 was determined higher than the allowed amount for this product group by the current regulations (2 μg/kg for cereals, 2 μg/kg for nuts and 5 μg/kg for spices)