Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
09:13
Hydroponics: A Versatile System to Study Nutrient Allocation and Plant Responses to Nutrient Availability and Exposure to Toxic Elements
Published on: July 13, 2016
32.8K
Essential Trace Elements in Edible Plants: Balancing Nutritional Benefits and Potential Health Risks
Agata Stolecka1, Pilar Ortiz Sandoval2,3, Agnieszka Gruszecka-Kosowska1
1AGH University of Krakow, Poland, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Protection, Al Mickiewicza 30, Kraków 30-059, Poland.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|February 22, 2026
Summary
Essential trace elements (ETEs) in Polish edible plants show varied nutritional contributions and health risks. Bioaccessibility data is crucial for accurate dietary risk assessment and nutritional guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Environmental Health
- Food Chemistry
Background:
- Essential trace elements (ETEs) like cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) are vital for human health.
- Understanding their concentrations and bioaccessibility in commonly consumed foods is key for nutritional assessment and risk evaluation.
- Edible plants form a significant part of the diet in Poland, necessitating a thorough examination of their ETE content.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the total and bioaccessible concentrations of Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in diverse Polish edible plants.
- To assess the nutritional contribution and potential noncarcinogenic health risks associated with ETE intake from these plants.
- To evaluate the impact of different extraction methods and bioaccessibility on dietary exposure estimations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of total and bioaccessible ETE concentrations in vegetables, fruits, and cereals using seven standardized extraction methods.
- Application of Monte Carlo simulations for calculating Estimated Nutrient Intake (ENI) and Hazard Quotients (HQs), incorporating consumption and absorption variability.
- Comparative analysis of results based on plant type, extraction protocol, and bioaccessibility.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in ETE concentrations and bioaccessibility were observed across different plant types and extraction methods.
- Bioaccessibility-adjusted intake estimates were generally lower than those based on total element concentrations.
- Most Estimated Nutrient Intakes were within recommended ranges, but potential underexposure (Co, Fe) or overexposure (Cu, Mn) was identified in certain scenarios.
Conclusions:
- Bioaccessibility significantly influences the estimation of nutrient intake and health risks from edible plants.
- Current dietary assessment models should integrate bioaccessibility data for more accurate nutritional evaluations.
- Findings highlight the need for refined nutritional guidelines and risk assessments considering element bioavailability in plant-based diets.
Related Concept Videos
02:35Key Elements for Plant Nutrition
24.5K
Like all living organisms, plants require organic and inorganic nutrients to survive, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. To identify nutrients that are essential for plant functioning, researchers have leveraged a technique called hydroponics. In hydroponic culture systems, plants are grown—without soil—in water-based solutions containing nutrients. At least 17 nutrients have been identified as essential elements required by plants. Plants acquire these elements from the...
24.5K
01:27The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
23.1K
Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
Periodic Table Provides Information...
Periodic Table Provides Information...
23.1K
00:57The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
204.2K
Overview
204.2K
01:26Minerals
1.4K
Minerals are essential nutrients that the human body needs in small amounts to work properly. They play a vital role in many bodily functions, such as building strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are needed for hormone production or to maintain a normal heartbeat. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, while trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.
Major...
Major...
1.4K
01:30Vitamins
2.6K
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced...
2.6K
02:02Responses to Salt Stress
14.8K
Salt stress—which can be triggered by high salt concentrations in a plant’s environment—can significantly affect plant growth and crop production by influencing photosynthesis and the absorption of water and nutrients.
14.8K