Evaluation of iron content in bakery flour samples of Tehran, Iran.

Given that iron-deficiency anemia is a major nutritional problem in Iran and bread is one of the main foods in Iranian household basket, a flour fortification program with iron was established in 2001. Thereafter, to quality control of the mentioned program, the iron concentration was measured in flour samples. Accordingly, this study was conducted to investigate the iron content in wheat flour samples in Tehran, Iran. One hundred and twenty-one samples of wheat flour (i.e., Confectionery, Taftoon, Setareh, Barbary, Sangak wheat flour) were randomly collected from bakeries in Tehran by simple random sampling method. The content of iron was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean levels of iron in Confectionery, Taftoon, Setareh, Barbary, Sangak flour were 18.56 ± 5.64 ppm, 28.32 ± 1.74 ppm, 17.21 ± 5.02 ppm, 32.81 ± 3.98 ppm, 14.02 ± 4.99 ppm, respectively. The mean iron concentration of all sample groups was not complied with the minimum recommended level set by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical education (40 ppm). The mean iron content of all tested flour was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower than the minimum recommended level. The highest iron level was obtained in Barbary (32.81 ppm) and Taftoon (28.32 ppm) flour. While the lowest mean iron level was obtained in Sangak flour (14.02 ppm), followed by Setareh (17.21 ppm), and Confectionery (18.56 ppm) flour. In conclusion, it was identified that the iron fortification program in Tehran, Iran was not well performed as the minimum required level of iron in wheat flours (40 ppm) was not fulfilled. Therefore, the supervision and encouragement of the authorities to provide iron-fortified flours is highly recommended.

Potential toxic elements (PTEs) concentration in wheat and flour products in Iran: A probabilistic risk assessment.

The aim of This study was to assess the concentration of potential toxic elements (PTEs) in wheat, flour of Sangak, and Lavash bread samples and the possible effect of the milling process due to a depreciation of the device. Levels of PTEs in tested samples (n = 270) from 10 factories in Iran were determined by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry). In addition, the associated human health risk due to consumption of wheat, Sangak and Lavash bread flours in adults and children was estimated. In this approach, percentile 95% hazard quotient (HQ), Hazard index (HI), and Total Hazard Index (THI) was used as a symptom for endangering the consumer people health. A significant difference was detected in Ni concentration between wheat and two brands of flours i.e., Sangak and Lavash samples. The PTEs concentration order in the wheat and flour samples was Fe > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > As > Cd, respectively. Consistent with findings, the concentration of PTEs in all samples was less than the permitted limit set by the European Commission and JECFA committee. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic human health risk assessment (HRA) was calculated. Bread consumption per capita is 0.45 kg for adults and 0.27 kg for children per day. The results showed that both adults and children groups are not at remarkable health risk for PTEs at mean HQ, HI, THI <1 and ELCR <10E-4, but for HRA at the percentile 95% showed there is HRA of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic disease for children group (HQ, HI, THI >1 and ELCR >10E-4).

The Effects of Toxic Heavy Metals Lead, Cadmium and Copper on the Epidemiology of Male and Female Infertility.

Infertility is a major problem in modern society that affects a significant number of couples around the world. Heavy metals and a number of other factors have been causally linked to infertility. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heavy metals lead, cadmium, and copper on the epidemiology of male and female infertility. Searches for articles published from 1982 to 2020 using related keywords such as male and female infertility and heavy metals were performed in scientific databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and others. The results showed that, in recent years, the number of infertile individuals has increased. Various environmental, occupational, and genetic factors have been described as potential causes. Heavy metals lead, cadmium, and copper cause infertility in couples through various mechanisms, such as changes in sperm motility factors, decreased semen quality, or effects on the egg. Exposure to physical phenomena such as radiation (ionized or microwave) and heat; stress and mental disorders; chemicals from cigarettes, respiratory pollutants (lead), insecticides and pesticides; anesthetic gases; and mercury and cytotoxic drugs may also contribute to the onset of infertility.

Mitigation of potentially toxic elements in food products by probiotic bacteria: A comprehensive review.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) as non-degradable elements (especially carcinogenic types for humans such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As)) are widely distributed in the environment. They are one of the most concerned pollutants that can be absorbed and accumulated in the human body, primarily via contaminated water and foods. Acute or chronic poisoning of humans to PTEs can pose some serious risks for human health even at low concentrations. In this context, some methods are introduced to eliminate or reduce their concentration. While the biological treatment by bacterial strains, particularly probiotic bacteria, is considered as an effective method for reducing or eliminating of them. The consumption of probiotics as nonpathogenic microorganisms at regular and adequate dose offer some beneficial health impacts, it can also be applied to remove PTEs in both alive and non-alive states. This review aimed to provide an overview regarding the efficacy of different types of probiotic bacteria for PTEs removal from various environments such as food, water, in vitro, and in vivo conditions.