Trace element composition and dietary exposure to Mn, Se, Mo, Cr, Co, Ni, and Li in the Cuban diet: Evidence from a...

Trace elements in the diet originate from both geogenic and anthropogenic sources, and population exposure is determined by the combined effects of food composition and consumption patterns. This study applied an "as consumed" Total Diet Study to quantify manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), and lithium (Li) in representative Cuban food groups and to estimate population dietary intakes. Consumption data were obtained from 24-h dietary recalls collected between October 2020 and March 2021 in three geographic regions of Cuba (n = 450 adults). Seventeen food groups were defined according to national consumption patterns, and foods were purchased at retail level, prepared as typically consumed, composited, homogenized, and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry under rigorous quality control. Mean dietary intakes were estimated at 6.55 mg/day for Mn, 76 µg/day for Se, 437 µg/day for Mo, 183 µg/day for Cr, 20 µg/day for Co, 191 µg/day for Ni, and 31.5 µg/day for Li. Dietary exposure was largely driven by a limited number of staple foods and high-frequency consumption matrices. Cereals, tubers, legumes, and beverages were the main contributors to Mn, Mo, Cr, and Ni intake; meats, fish and shellfish, and dairy products were the principal contributors to Se; legumes and cereals were the main contributors to Co; and beverages, cereals, and tubers were the leading contributors to Li intake. Mean intakes of Mn, Se, and Mo remained below established or proposed tolerable upper intake levels, and Se intake exceeded the adequate intake while remaining well below the upper level. Overall, these findings define a staple-driven exposure profile and provide the first integrated Total Diet Study assessment of these elements in Cuba, establishing a quantitative baseline for exposure monitoring, international comparison, and prioritization of food groups and elements for future risk assessment and nutrition policy.