Trace element risk assessment: essentiality vs. toxicity

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• Essential trace elements are vital for health, but both high and low intakes pose risks.
• Risk assessments for elements like chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and zinc are critical.
• Variations in risk assessment values across organizations have historically presented challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare risk assessments for eight essential trace elements by various U.S. organizations.
• To evaluate the compatibility of toxicity and nutritional values, considering new Dietary Reference Intakes.
• To identify trends in risk assessment coordination and harmonization.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of risk assessment data from governmental and private U.S. organizations.
• Examination of established toxicity values and newly derived Dietary Reference Intakes.
• Evaluation of the convergence and divergence of recommended intake levels.

Main Results:

• Differences exist in risk assessment values among organizations for essential trace elements.
• Recent Dietary Reference Intakes have contributed to more compatible toxicity and nutritional values.
• Increased coordination among organizations has led to more harmonized risk assessments.

Conclusions:

• Risk assessments for essential trace elements are becoming more consistent.
• Dietary Reference Intakes play a key role in aligning nutritional and toxicity guidelines.
• Further coordination can enhance the reliability of essential trace element risk assessments.