Assessment of Essential Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Organic and Conventional Flaxseeds: Implications for Dietary Exposure and Food Safety
Flax (<i>Linum usitatissimum</i> L.) is valued for its fibers and nutrient-rich seeds, which are increasingly consumed for their health benefits. However, flaxseeds can also accumulate potentially toxic elements (PTEs), raising concerns about safety. This study quantified 11 essential el...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Rodrigo de Lima Brum Katarzyna Siedzik Samuel Alejandro-Vega Soraya Paz-Montelongo Ángel J. Gutiérrez-Fernández Dailos González-Weller Arturo Hardisson Malgorzata Misniakiewicz Ewa Pyrzyńska Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior Carmen Rubio |
| author_facet | Rodrigo de Lima Brum Katarzyna Siedzik Samuel Alejandro-Vega Soraya Paz-Montelongo Ángel J. Gutiérrez-Fernández Dailos González-Weller Arturo Hardisson Malgorzata Misniakiewicz Ewa Pyrzyńska Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior Carmen Rubio |
| author_sort | Rodrigo de Lima Brum |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Flax (<i>Linum usitatissimum</i> L.) is valued for its fibers and nutrient-rich seeds, which are increasingly consumed for their health benefits. However, flaxseeds can also accumulate potentially toxic elements (PTEs), raising concerns about safety. This study quantified 11 essential elements (e.g., Ca, Fe, Mg, and Zn) and 9 PTEs (e.g., Al, Cd, Pb, and Ni) in commercial flaxseed samples using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry. Two intake scenarios (15 g/day and 30 g/day) were analyzed to estimate dietary exposure, with health risks assessed through the target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI). The results showed that organic flaxseeds had higher levels of certain elements (e.g., Cu, K, and Pb), while Al and Ni were more abundant in conventional samples. Cadmium levels in both remained below the EU regulatory limit. The highest estimated daily intakes were for K, Mg, and Ca, highlighting the seeds’ nutritional value. However, HI values suggested that Al and Pb could pose health risks. These findings emphasize flaxseeds’ dual nature as both beneficial and potentially harmful, particularly given the lack of specific regulatory limits and limited data on elemental composition. Continued monitoring and risk assessment are recommended to safeguard public health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c47eb6c25dd7433fa12e21c11c201173 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-c47eb6c25dd7433fa12e21c11c2011732025-08-20T02:35:51ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-06-011513700410.3390/app15137004Assessment of Essential Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Organic and Conventional Flaxseeds: Implications for Dietary Exposure and Food SafetyRodrigo de Lima Brum0Katarzyna Siedzik1Samuel Alejandro-Vega2Soraya Paz-Montelongo3Ángel J. Gutiérrez-Fernández4Dailos González-Weller5Arturo Hardisson6Malgorzata Misniakiewicz7Ewa Pyrzyńska8Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior9Carmen Rubio10Laboratório de Ensaios Farmacológicos e Toxicológicos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, RS, BrazilGrupo de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Seguridad de los Alimentos y Medicamentos, Universidad de La Laguna, 38071 La Laguna, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Seguridad de los Alimentos y Medicamentos, Universidad de La Laguna, 38071 La Laguna, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Seguridad de los Alimentos y Medicamentos, Universidad de La Laguna, 38071 La Laguna, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Seguridad de los Alimentos y Medicamentos, Universidad de La Laguna, 38071 La Laguna, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Seguridad de los Alimentos y Medicamentos, Universidad de La Laguna, 38071 La Laguna, SpainGrupo de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Seguridad de los Alimentos y Medicamentos, Universidad de La Laguna, 38071 La Laguna, SpainDepartment of Food Product Quality, Krakow University of Economics (Katedra Jakości Produktów Żywnościowych, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Krakowie), Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Kraków, PolandDepartment of Food Product Quality, Krakow University of Economics (Katedra Jakości Produktów Żywnościowych, Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Krakowie), Rakowicka 27, 31-510 Kraków, PolandLaboratório de Ensaios Farmacológicos e Toxicológicos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, RS, BrazilGrupo de Investigación en Toxicología Ambiental y Seguridad de los Alimentos y Medicamentos, Universidad de La Laguna, 38071 La Laguna, SpainFlax (<i>Linum usitatissimum</i> L.) is valued for its fibers and nutrient-rich seeds, which are increasingly consumed for their health benefits. However, flaxseeds can also accumulate potentially toxic elements (PTEs), raising concerns about safety. This study quantified 11 essential elements (e.g., Ca, Fe, Mg, and Zn) and 9 PTEs (e.g., Al, Cd, Pb, and Ni) in commercial flaxseed samples using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry. Two intake scenarios (15 g/day and 30 g/day) were analyzed to estimate dietary exposure, with health risks assessed through the target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI). The results showed that organic flaxseeds had higher levels of certain elements (e.g., Cu, K, and Pb), while Al and Ni were more abundant in conventional samples. Cadmium levels in both remained below the EU regulatory limit. The highest estimated daily intakes were for K, Mg, and Ca, highlighting the seeds’ nutritional value. However, HI values suggested that Al and Pb could pose health risks. These findings emphasize flaxseeds’ dual nature as both beneficial and potentially harmful, particularly given the lack of specific regulatory limits and limited data on elemental composition. Continued monitoring and risk assessment are recommended to safeguard public health.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7004flaxseedstrace elementspotentially toxic elementsdietary exposurerisk assessment |
| spellingShingle | Rodrigo de Lima Brum Katarzyna Siedzik Samuel Alejandro-Vega Soraya Paz-Montelongo Ángel J. Gutiérrez-Fernández Dailos González-Weller Arturo Hardisson Malgorzata Misniakiewicz Ewa Pyrzyńska Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior Carmen Rubio Assessment of Essential Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Organic and Conventional Flaxseeds: Implications for Dietary Exposure and Food Safety Applied Sciences flaxseeds trace elements potentially toxic elements dietary exposure risk assessment |
| title | Assessment of Essential Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Organic and Conventional Flaxseeds: Implications for Dietary Exposure and Food Safety |
| title_full | Assessment of Essential Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Organic and Conventional Flaxseeds: Implications for Dietary Exposure and Food Safety |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Essential Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Organic and Conventional Flaxseeds: Implications for Dietary Exposure and Food Safety |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Essential Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Organic and Conventional Flaxseeds: Implications for Dietary Exposure and Food Safety |
| title_short | Assessment of Essential Elements and Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Organic and Conventional Flaxseeds: Implications for Dietary Exposure and Food Safety |
| title_sort | assessment of essential elements and potentially toxic elements ptes in organic and conventional flaxseeds implications for dietary exposure and food safety |
| topic | flaxseeds trace elements potentially toxic elements dietary exposure risk assessment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/13/7004 |
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