Author(s): Paiva, Esther ; Ali, Sher ; Vasco, Elsa ; Alvito, Paula ; Oliveira, Carlos
Date: 2023
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/8946
Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Nacional de Saúde
Subject(s): Bioaccessibility Data; Potential Toxic Elements; Complementary Foods for Infants; Infant Food; In vitro Protocols; Composição dos Alimentos
The introduction of complementary foods (CFs) is a critical step in an infant's transition to solid foods, providing essential nutrients beyond breast milk. However, CFs may contain potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as arsenic and cadmium that pose health risks to infants. In this context, understanding the bioaccessibility of PTEs is vital as it determines the fraction of a contaminant released from the food matrix and available for absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Efforts have been made to standardize the assessment methodology for bioaccessibility, ensuring consistent and reliable data. Moreover, regulatory agencies have established guidelines for PTEs levels in food. However, important gaps still exist, which motivates many research opportunities on this topic.
