Departamento de Alimentação e Nutrição
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- Measuring minerals in pseudocereals using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry: what is the optimal digestion method?Publication . Nascimento, Ana C.; Motta, Carla; Rego, Andreia; Delgado, Inês; Santiago, Susana; Assunção, Ricardo; Matos, Ana Sofia; Santos, Mariana; Castanheira, Isabel; .Pseudocereals have gained attention due to their adaptability to different climates, high nutritional value, and suitability for gluten-free and plant-based diets. However, a challenge lies in the necessary adaptations in the diet pathways, mainly due to the lack of matrix-matching metrological tools. To address this problem, we developed a classification system to support laboratory decisions without shaped Proficiency Testing (PT) or Certified/Standard References Material. This system evaluates method performance through limit of detection (LOD), maximum uncertainty, and statistical comparison. For that matter, the mineral contents (Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Mg, P, Ca, K, and Na) of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus), and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) were determined, using three different digestion methods, including dry-ashing, microwave, and graphite block acid digestion. A decision was reached concerning the optimal digestion method to be employed, with the results classified into three categories: (i) “rejected if results failed in two categories; (ii) “use with caution” if results were not satisfactory in one category; or (iii) “accepted”, if the results passed in all the categories. The system efficacy was exemplified by the effectiveness of dry-ashing and graphite block acid digestion by comparison with microwave digestion. Neither dry-ashing nor graphite block acid digestion can be recommended as an alternative method to the microwave digestion method when all the prioritized nutrient minerals are understudied. Although the microwave method is preferable for multi-elemental analysis, it is possible to obtain, with caution, comparable results from all the digestion methods if a higher relative combined uncertainty is defined (target uncertainty < 11%) under the assumption that this is suitable for the study.
- Tracking Mycotoxin Exposure in Portugal: New Insights and Key DeterminantsPublication . Namorado, Sónia; Maris, Elias; Chen, A.; Pero-Gascon, Roger; de Boevre, Marthe; De Saeger, Sarah; Silva, Maria João; Alvito, Paula; .Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a vital tool for assessing exposure to environmental chemicals. Mycotoxins have been associated with various adverse health effects, including estrogenic, immunotoxic, nephrotoxic, and teratogenic outcomes. In this presentation an overview of two recent HBM studies on multiple mycotoxins exposure biomarkers conducted in Portugal will be given. The first study analyzed 37 mycotoxin biomarkers in urine samples from 94 adult participants (48.4 ± 15.2 years), as part of the National Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Survey (2015–2016). Six different mycotoxins -DON, ZEN, AOH, OTA, FB1, and CIT- was confirmed through the quantification of 12 urinary biomarkers in paired 24 h and first-morning urine samples. DON and its metabolites were among the most frequently detected biomarkers and AOH was identified for the first time in urine samples from a European population. Associations between urinary mycotoxin biomarkers and consumption of specific food items were also observed. More recently, a subset of 295 first-morning urine samples from adults (28–39 years) was collected between 2019-2020, as part of a cross-sectional study embedded within the Portuguese National Health Examination Survey (INSEF). These samples were analyzed using a newly optimized and validated LC-MS/MS method capable of detecting 40 mycotoxins and/or their metabolites in urine. DON and tenuazonic acid were the most frequently detected, with detection rates of 85% and 96%, respectively. Further investigations into key exposure determinants—including dietary habits, demographic factors, and geographical variations—are ongoing and will be presented. Altogether, these findings highlight the importance of continued surveillance and the integration of HBM into national food safety and public health strategies.