Agricultura (Dec 2022)

ESSENTIAL AND NON-ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN CHLORELLA AND SPIRULINA FOOD SUPPLEMENTS

  • Emilia Iuliana Neag,
  • Zamfira Stupar,
  • Oana Cadar,
  • Iulia Török,
  • Cecilia Roman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.15835/agr.v124i3-4.14438
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 124, no. 3-4

Abstract

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This study aimed to determine the essential elements (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Mo, Se, Fe, and Zn) and non-essential elements (Al, Cd, Ni, Pb, and As) in some commercial Chlorella and Spirulina products available in Romania. The Pb content in the analyzed food supplements did not exceed the maximum content of 3.0 mg/kg set by the European Commission. Also, the Cd content in all studied supplements was below the limit of detection (0.1 mg/kg) and did not exceed the maximum level of 1.0 mg/kg. The Ni and As contents were found in small amounts in the supplements. Al content in Spirulina supplements was 21.67 and 65.73 mg/kg, respectively, higher than in Chlorella supplements (1.69 mg/kg and <0.1 mg/kg). The analyzed food supplements can be considered safe for human consumption based on the element content.

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