Brodziak-Dopierała Barbara, Fischer Agnieszka, Wilk Zofia, Roczniak Wojciech, Babuśka-Roczniak Magdalena
Department of Toxicology, Toxicological Analysis and Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Medical University of Silesia, 30 Ostrogórska Str., 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland.
Faculty of Medical Science, Jan Grodek State University in Sanok, 21 Mickiewicza Str., 38-500 Sanok, Poland.
Nutrients. 2025 May 26;17(11):1799. doi: 10.3390/nu17111799.
Dietary supplements (DSs) are products classified as foodstuffs, but frequently wrongly identified as medicines. The aim of the study was to determine the mercury (Hg) content in DSs supporting weight loss. The analysis concerned DSs' main active ingredient, form and manufacturer. The exposure to Hg resulting from the consumption of the supplements tested and the potential risk to health were also assessed. The results were compared to the permissible standards specified by the EU. The study used 47 preparations available on the Polish market. The studies were performed by means of an AMA 254 Hg analyzer using the atomic absorption spectrometry method with the amalgamation technique. The Hg content in slimming DSs ranged from 0.12 to 46.27 µg/kg; the arithmetic mean was 5.80 µg/kg, whereas the median value was lower-2.44 µg/kg. The highest average Hg content (21.58 µg/kg) was found in supplements containing chlorella, followed by preparations containing white mulberry-10.98 µg/kg. The lowest Hg content was noted in preparations with L-carnitine (1.07 µg/kg). In none of the supplements tested did the amount of Hg exceed the permissible standard, indicating that their consumption in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations does not pose a risk to consumers' health. To assess the risk of exposure, the THQ (Target Hazard Quotient) index was calculated and found to be higher than 1 for 11 DSs. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is a likely risk of side effects associated with the consumption of the DSs tested.
膳食补充剂（DSs）是归类为食品的产品，但经常被错误地认定为药品。本研究的目的是测定支持减肥的膳食补充剂中的汞（Hg）含量。分析涉及膳食补充剂的主要活性成分、形式和制造商。还评估了食用受试补充剂导致的汞暴露及其对健康的潜在风险。将结果与欧盟规定的允许标准进行了比较。该研究使用了波兰市场上可得的47种制剂。研究采用AMA 254汞分析仪，通过汞齐化技术的原子吸收光谱法进行。减肥膳食补充剂中的汞含量范围为0.12至46.27μg/kg；算术平均值为5.80μg/kg，而中位数较低，为2.44μg/kg。含小球藻的补充剂中汞的平均含量最高（21.58μg/kg），其次是含白桑的制剂，为10.98μg/kg。含左旋肉碱的制剂中汞含量最低（1.07μg/kg）。受试补充剂中汞含量均未超过允许标准，这表明按照制造商的建议食用这些补充剂不会对消费者健康构成风险。为评估暴露风险，计算了目标危害商数（THQ）指数，发现11种膳食补充剂的该指数高于1。因此，可以得出结论，食用受试膳食补充剂可能存在副作用风险。
