Determination of essential and toxic elements content of Turkish peanut and assessment of health risk

Peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL.), which is one of the most important members of the legumes family, contains appreciable amounts of high-quality dietary oil and vegetable protein. It can be added to many foods to enhance their levels of high-quality protein in diets lacking in nutrition. In this study, 18 essential elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, Mg, P, S, K, Ca, Cl, Br and I) and 4 non-essential toxic metals (Cd, Sn, Hg, and Pb) in 42 peanut samples from Mediterranean region of Turkey were analysed by using an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The most abundant essential elements of K, P, S, Ca, Mg and Cl were determined with average concentrations of 13,437, 5058, 3451, 1786, 1759 and 209 mg kg(-1), respectively. The daily intake of toxic metals for an adult person due to the consumption of peanuts was estimated based on the measured concentrations of the toxic metals (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn, Cd, Pb, and Hg). The results revealed that peanut samples contain health-enhancing nutritional elements and consumption of peanut samples as food does not pose any health risk for toxic metals.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the element composition of 42 peanut samples from the Mediterranean region of Turkey and found that peanuts contain abundant nutritional elements. The consumption of peanuts does not pose a health risk from toxic metals.