Patulin in domestic and imported apple-based drinks in Belgium: occurrence and exposure assessment.

Apple-based beverages are regularly consumed by adults and children in Belgium. They are locally produced or imported from other countries. The apples used as starting material for these productions are frequently contaminated by mycotoxin-producing moulds and damaged during transport and handling. The current study was undertaken to investigate whether patulin (PAT) is present in the industrial or handicraft-made apple juices and ciders consumed by the Belgian population and to assess the population's exposure to this mycotoxin through apple-based drinks. Belgian (n = 29) and imported (14) apple juices as well as ciders (7) were assayed for PAT by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet light detection. PAT was detected respectively in 79, 86 and 43% of these tested samples. However, no contaminated sample exceeded the safe level of 50 microg PAT l(-1). Levels of PAT contamination were comparable in Belgian and imported juice samples. The overall mean PAT concentrations were 9.0 and 3.4 microg l(-1) for contaminated apple juices and ciders, respectively. This study also indicates that there was no statistically significant difference in the mean PAT contamination between clear (7.8 microg l(-1)) and cloudy (10.7 microg l(-1)) apple juices, as well as between handicraft-made apple juices (14.6 microg l(-1)) and industrial ones (7.0 microg l(-1)). On the basis of the mean results, a consumer exposure assessment indicates that a daily intake of 0.2 litres apple juice contributes to 45% of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake for a child of 10 kg body weight.

Abnormal trace mineral metabolism in adult X-linked hypophosphatemic mice: a possible role of increased food intake.

X-linked hypophosphatemia is a human and mouse disease characterized by reduced renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate, hypophosphatemia, and dwarfism. The gene is X-linked and dominant. There have been conflicting reports in the literature regarding possible malabsorption of minerals by the intestine as well. In this study we examined the mineral status in adult X-linked hypophosphatemic (Hyp) mice by measuring trace minerals in blood, bone, muscle, liver and hair and by performing a balance study for Ca, P, Mg, Na and K. The results indicate that Hyp mice have higher than normal levels of plasma iron, bone manganese and zinc, liver iron, and muscle zinc. The trace minerals in hair were not significantly affected. The balance study showed that the content of Ca, P, Mg, Na and K of the urine and feces of normal and Hyp mice were nonsignificantly different. Hyp mice did consume more diet per gram body weight. We conclude that there is no deficiency in intestinal mineral absorption in adult Hyp mice. No tissues studied were found to have reduced trace mineral levels. In fact, where differences occurred, Hyp mice had elevated trace mineral levels in various tissues and blood. This was probably the result of the increased dietary intake per gram body weight in the Hyp mice.