Investigating the Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability of Cadmium in a Cooked Rice Food Matrix by Using an 11-Day...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Toxicology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Cadmium (Cd) contamination in rice poses a significant human health risk.
• Accurate assessment of Cd bioaccessibility and bioavailability is crucial for risk management.
• Understanding Cd absorption mechanisms in the human gut is essential for dietary safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of Cd in cooked rice using an in vitro model.
• To simulate the absorption and transport of Cd in the small intestine.
• To establish an accurate risk assessment method for Cd in contaminated food matrices.

Main Methods:

• An 11-day in vitro rapid Caco-2/HT-29 co-culture cell model was developed.
• The model simulated small intestine absorption and transport of Cd.
• An in vitro digestion model was combined with the cell model to study Cd in cooked rice.

Main Results:

• Cd bioaccessibility was higher in the gastric phase (59.04-80.23%) than the gastrointestinal phase (37.14-52.93%).
• Undigested residue, pH, and ions significantly affected Cd bioaccessibility, not solely Cd levels.
• Cd absorption rate (25.08%) and bioavailability (8.29%) were comparable to essential minerals like Zn2+ (6.66%).

Conclusions:

• The Caco-2/HT-29 co-culture model efficiently assesses Cd bioaccessibility and bioavailability in food.
• The intestinal epithelium shows a significant capacity for absorbing Cd, similar to essential metals.
• This research provides a tool for further investigation into food matrix effects on contaminant absorption and risk assessment.