Evaluation of in vitro bioaccessibility of copper, iron and manganese in Amazonian fruits

Abstract

The bioaccessibility of Cu, Fe and Mn in Amazonian fruits (açaí, white açaí, bacuri and tucumã) was evaluated in this study using in vitro methods. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was used for total metal quantification, and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) was used to quantify the metals in the simulated gastric and gastrointestinal digestions. The Cu concentration in the fruits tested varied between 8.59 and 14.99 mg/kg. For Fe, the concentration in the samples ranged from 35.88 to 60.45 mg/kg. The lowest and highest concentrations of Mn were found in bacuri (5.01 mg/kg) and white açaí (709.93 mg/kg), respectively. In the açaí, white açaí and tucumã samples, the bioaccessible percentage of Cu was higher than the human can absorb. The available Fe value determined in the gastric simulation was similar to that observed in the gastrointestinal simulation, varying from 42.95 to 56.22%. The bioaccessible Mn fraction varied between 28.72 and 68.78% in the gastric simulation and between 26.81 and 64.85% in the gastrointestinal simulation. This study contributes to our knowledge of the actual amount of Cu, Fe and Mn absorbed by ingestion of the studied fruits.