Health risks from consumption of medicinal plant dietary supplements

The aim of this study was to determine the heavy metal contents of dietary supplements manufactured from medicinal plants and assess the potential daily burden on their consumers. The study consisted of 41 dietary supplements produced from terrestrial plants or microalgae. The analysis of cadmium, lead, and mercury content was performed using analytical methods. The content of Cd and Pb was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The mercury content was determined using atomic absorption spectrometry with the generation of cold mercury vapor (CVAAS). The presence of at least one of the three analyzed heavy metals was found in 79.2% samples of supplements produced from terrestrial plants and in 88.2% supplement samples produced from microalgae. Hazard quotient was used to calculate noncarcinogenic risk for humans by ingestion of dietary supplements containing heavy metals. From among all supplements, 68.3% of samples were contaminated with Cd and Pb (this does not always apply to the same samples) and 29.3% of samples were contaminated with Hg. The health risk assessment of consumers of dietary supplements showed, in an extreme case, that taking this supplement for only one week poses a health risk associated with exposure to Pb. The health risk associated with the intake of dietary supplements primarily depends on the duration of consumption.