Forskning

October 18, 2021

Detection of a Hemoglobin Adduct of the Food Contaminant Furfuryl Alcohol in Humans: Levels of N-((Furan-2-yl)methyl)-valine in two Epidemiological Studies

B H Monien et al, 2021. Detection of a Hemoglobin Adduct of the Food Contaminant Furfuryl Alcohol in Humans: Levels of N-((Furan-2-yl)methyl)-valine in two Epidemiological Studies, Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, published online.

ABSTRACT:

Scope: Furfuryl alcohol is a heat-induced food contaminant, classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The proximal carcinogen 2-sulfoxymethylfuran leads to adduct formation in DNA and proteins (e.g., N-((furan-2-yl)methyl)-Val (FFA-Val) in hemoglobin).

Methods and results: We analyzed human erythrocyte samples from two studies for the presence of FFA-Val: the Risks and Benefits of a Vegan Diet study (RBVD; 72 adults) and the ENVIRonmental influence ON early AGEing birth cohort study (ENVIRONAGE; 100 mother-newborn pairs). In the RBVD study, FFA-Val levels were lower in vegans compared to omnivores (median 13.0 versus 15.8 pmol/g hemoglobin, p = 0.008), and lower in non-smokers compared to smokers (median 14.1 versus 17.0 pmol/g hemoglobin, p = 0.003). In the birth cohort, FFA-Val levels were distinctly higher in maternal compared to newborn samples (median 15.2 versus 2.2 pmol/g hemoglobin, p<0.001).

Conclusions: FFA-Val, hitherto detected only in blood samples of mice, was quantifiable in all human samples, indicating a general exposure to furfuryl alcohol. The low adduct levels in blood samples from newborn children suggested that the placenta is a barrier to furfuryl alcohol. Dietary habits and tobacco smoking are two main influencing factors on the formation of FFA-Val, which may be of use as a biomarker of exposure to furfuryl alcohol.