Toxic trace elements at gastrointestinal level.
Many trace elements are considered essential [iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu)], whereas others may be harmful [lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As)], depending on their concentration and chemical form. In most cases, the diet is the main pathway by which they enter our organism. The presence of toxic trace elements in food has been known for a long time, and many of the food matrices that carry them have been identified. This has led to the appearance of legislation and recommendations concerning consumption. Given that the main route of exposure is oral, passage through the gastrointestinal tract plays a fundamental role in their entry into the organism, where they exert their toxic effect. Although the digestive system can be considered to be of crucial importance in their toxicity, in most cases we do not know the events that occur during the passage of these elements through the gastrointestinal tract and of ascertaining whether they may have some kind of toxic effect on it. The aim of this review is to summarize available information on this subject, concentrating on the toxic trace elements that are of greatest interest for organizations concerned with food safety and health: Pb, Cd, Hg and As.
Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Avenida Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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Vázquez
Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Avenida Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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Calatayud
Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Avenida Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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Jadán Piedra
Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Avenida Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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Chiocchetti
Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Avenida Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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Vélez
Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Avenida Agustín Escardino 7, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: vdevesa@iata.csic.es.
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Devesa
D000818:Animals; D005504:Food Analysis; D005506:Food Contamination; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000187:drug effects*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000633:toxicity*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements
Bioavailability; Food; Gastrointestinal toxicity; Intestinal absorption; Toxic trace elements; Transformations