Bioaccessibility data of potentially toxic elements in complementary foods for infants: A review

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.

Automated summary

The introduction of complementary foods is a crucial step in the transition to solid foods for infants, but these foods may contain potentially harmful toxic elements. Understanding the bioaccessibility of these elements is essential for assessing the potential risks to infants. Standardized assessment methods and regulatory guidelines have been established, but there are still research opportunities and significant knowledge gaps.