María G. Galán, Carolina E. Cagnasso, Silvina R. Drago.

Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET). Argentina.

SUMMARY.

EDTA is used as disodium salt or disodiumcalcium in foods, to prevent lipid oxidation or as color and flavor stabilizer. In some countries, FeNaEDTA is also used as a source of iron for fortification. However, EDTA has an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 2.5 mg / kg/day. The aim of this study was to estimate the intake of EDTA in children of school age and the potential use of Fe- NaEDTA as iron source for breakfast cereal fortification. A qualitative-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was conducted on 225 schoolchildren of both sexes, aged between 4 and 13, from school canteens, public and private schools, from the city of Santa Fe (Argentina). Only those foods which EDTA addition is allowed in Argentina: packaged ice cream, soda, soft drinks and powdered soft drinks (upper limit of Na₂EDTA o Na₂CaEDTA: 35 mg/kg) and dressings and margarines (upper limit of Na₂CaEDTA: 75 mg/kg) were considered. EDTA Average Daily Consumption (ADC) was 0.06 mg/kg/day with a median of 0.011 mg/kg/day, representing 2.4% of the ADI. In the hypothetical case that FeNaEDTA would be used as iron source for breakfast cereal fortification at level of 11 mg Fe%, the potential EDTA ADC would be 0.46 ± 0.32 mg/kg/day, representing 18.4% of the ADI (2.5 mg/kg/day). Results indicate that children from Santa Fe city have an EDTA ADC currently well below the maximum ADI of EDTA, which would remain low even if FeNaEDTA is used for breakfast cereal fortification.

Key words: EDTA consumption, iron fortification, Fe- NaEDTA, breakfast cereals, food frequency questionnaire.

RESUMEN.

Estudio de la ingesta de EDTA en niños para la utilización potencial de FeNaEDTA en la fortificación de cereales para desayuno. El EDTA es utilizado en alimentos como sal disódica o disódica-cálcica, para prevenir la oxidación lipídica o como estabilizante del color y sabor. En algunos países, FeNaEDTA es también usado como una fuente de hierro para la fortificación de alimentos. Sin embargo, posee una Ingesta Diaria Admisible (IDA) de 2,5 mg/kg/día. El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar la ingesta de EDTA en niños y el potencial uso de FeNaEDTA como fuente de fortificación de hierro en cereales para desayuno (CPD). Se realizó un cuestionario de frecuencia alimentaria cuali-cuantitativo a niños de ambos sexos, en edades comprendidas entre 4 y 13 años, que asistían a comedores escolares, escuelas públicas y privadas de la Ciudad de Santa Fe, Argentina. Solo se evaluaron aquellos alimentos en los que se halla permitido el agregado de EDTA en Argentina: helados envasados, gaseosas, bebidas sin alcohol y jugos en polvo, aderezos y margarina. La Ingesta Diaria Promedio (IDP) de EDTA fue de 0,06 mg/Kg/día con una mediana de 0,011 mg/kg/día, lo que representa el 2,4% de la IDA. En el hipotético caso de que FeNaEDTA fuera usado como fuente de hierro para fortificación de CPD en un nivel de 11 mg Fe%, la potencial IDP de EDTA sería de 0,46 ± 0,32 mg/kg/día, lo que representa un 18,4 % de la IDA. Los resultados indican que la IDP de EDTA está muy por debajo de la IDA máxima, la cual seguiría siendo baja incluso si el FeNaEDTA se utilizara como fortificante de hierro en CPD.

Palabras clave: Consumo de EDTA, fortificación con hierro, FeNaEDTA, cereales para desayuno, cuestionario de frecuencia alimentaria.

Recibido: 20-04-2012 Aceptado: 27-08-2012

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most prevalent disease in developed and undeveloped countries, affecting two million people worldwide (1, 2). Risk groups are young children and women of childbearing age. During periods of rapid growth, blood volume expands and more iron for red blood cells is needed. Iron deficiency can result in neurological and muscular diseases in pregnant women, premature birth and diseases of the fetus (3).

International organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been actively working to eradicate malnutrition, recommending four strategies: education, dietary diversification, supplementation and fortification (2).

Fortification of foods, namely micronutrients addition to staple foods, has been done in many industrialized countries for many years with considerable success, proving to be effective in correcting nutritional deficiencies of the population or specific groups at risk. Foods from all major groups such as flour, bread, cereals, dairy, oils, sugar, sweets and non-alcoholic beverage, can be fortified without altering the taste and appearance of food (4).

Dietary micronutrients are found in different chemical forms, which absorption depends not only on the content and chemical form of the mineral, but also on other occurring food components, interactions between elements and individual physiological factors (4).

Consequently, to estimate the effectiveness of the micronutrient contribution from the diet, it is not enough to determine the content in the food, but also the absorption and utilization by the body's cells, i.e. the bioavailability (5, 6).

Several organizations promote the use of sodium iron EDTA salt (FeNa EDTA) as iron source in developing countries. The main advantage of using FeNa EDTA in food fortification is that Fe is protected in gastrointestinal tract from iron absorption inhibitors, such as phytates and polyphenols. Another proposed strategy is the use of the disodium salt of EDTA (Na2EDTA) as an enhancer of iron absorption when it is added as ferrous sulfate (7).

Cereal-based foods are found among the most commonly suggested vehicles for iron fortification (4). It has been reported that iron from FeNaEDTA is 2 to 4 times better absorbed than iron from ferrous sulfate in a variety of cereals and legumes based foods. It does not promote lipid oxidation and is stable during food processing and storage (8).

Iron is better absorbed when the ratio EDTA: Fe is 0.25 to 1. The protective action of EDTA is independent of whether it is added as FeNaEDTA or Na2EDTA (9).

EDTA is also used as disodium salt or disodium calcium in foods such as heavy metal scavenger to prevent lipid oxidation or as a color and flavor stabilizer. Many countries permit EDTA addition to foods.

It should be noted that EDTA has an ADI of 2.5 mg/kg/day. Therefore, it should be considered the potential daily intake of this additive not only for controlling the levels of addition, but also for the possibility of using FeNaEDTA for food fortification.

According to a report by the Organization of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and WHO (2) there are three groups of additives on which it is important to evaluate the intake: the additives permitted in high concentrations in many foods, the additives in foods that are highly consumed and those with an ADI of 0 to 5 mg / kg.

There are two types of groups where EDTA intake should be carefully controlled, the population of higher economic strata because of their greater access to industrialized food and children (11).

The aims of this work were estimate EDTA consumption by children and adolescents in order to determine EDTA employment levels and evaluate the potential consumption of EDTA in the hypothetical case of using FeNaEDTA as fortification iron source in breakfast cereals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants:

A population of 225 children and adolescents of both sexes (97 female and 128 male) from the city of Santa Fe (placed in the center of Argentina), aged between 4 and 13 years old, who attend schools canteens is allowed by the CAA was performed. The food groups used for the preparation of this survey were: dressings (mayonnaise and mustard), soda, soft drink, powdered soft drink, packaged ice cream, and margarine. For each food group the frequency of consumption (how often the food is consumed at day, week or month), the number of servings consumed each time and the brand most frequently consumed were asked. The survey suggested different serving sizes depending on the food, for example: cups, soup spoons, teaspoons, etc.

The weight of each individual was measured in order to calculate the EDTA ADC, expressed as mg/kg/day.

The survey also requested details about the age and sex of the subject.

Analysis of the questionnaires:

The ADC of each food was recorded. The presence of EDTA in a product was considered from the label of each food. If the food contained EDTA, the maximum concentration allowed by the CAA was taken.

Serving sizes were considered according those established in the MERCOSUR Technical Resolution 47/03 (Spoonful of soup: 10 g, spoonful of tea: 5 g, glass: 200 ml, can: 354 ml, bottle: 250 ml) (12).

To study the potential use of FeNaEDTA as fortificant in breakfast cereal, a level of 11mg Fe/100 g product was considered. This is the amount stated in the majority of commercially available breakfast cereals. This value corresponds to 57.4 mg EDTA, because molar ratio iron: EDTA of 1:1 (11).

Statistical analysis:

Data were processed using the Statgraphic Plus 5.1 for Windows. In order to determine if the sample belong to a normal population the determination of kurtosis was made. As samples were from a non-normal distribution, data were compared using Kruskal-Wallis Test. When p value was less than 0.05, the difference was considered significant.

RESULTS

Food Average Daily Consumption: Table 1 shows food ADC for each one of the foods evaluated and the percentage of participants who consumed them. The Multifactor ANOVA shows that there were no statistically significant differences in the consumption of these foods by gender and social class.

EDTA Average Daily Consumption:

Considering the foods that actually use EDTA and the maximum EDTA supply that each type of food could do according CAA, an EDTA ADC of 0.0603 ± 0.0145 mg/kg/day was obtained. This represents a 2.4% of the ADI (2.5 mg / kg / day; ADI). The range of EDTA consumption was 0.001 - 1.26 mg/kg/day, with a median of 0.011 mg/kg/day.

Factors affecting EDTA

Average Daily Consumption:

When EDTA ADC was analyzed by sex and age, no statistically significant differences were found. However, when the factor was the social class, middleclass children consumed more EDTA and upper middle class had the lower EDTA consumption (Table 2).

When EDTA ADC was analyzed by kind of consumed food, it could be observed that soda and mayonnaise were the foods which did the major contribution. Soft drinks, powder soft drinks and packaged ice cream consumed did not contain EDTA (Table 3).

Potential EDTA Daily Consumption:

Potential EDTA consumption in case of using FeNaEDTA as fortificant in breakfast cereals: The ADC of breakfast cereals was 27 g/day, with a standard deviation of 61.58 g/day. No statistically significant differences were found when these data were evaluated according to sex and social class.

The hypothetical EDTA consumption from breakfast cereals, in the case of iron fortification with 11 mg Fe/100g using FeNaEDTA as iron source, would be 0.4 mg/kg/day.

If this value adds to EDTA ADC calculated from the intake of food which EDTA addition is allowed, the potential EDTA ADC would be 0.46 ± 0.32 mg/kg/day.

DISCUSSION

The children population under study belongs to L (20.9%), M (36%) and UM social class (43.1%).

Table 1 show that almost all participants consumed soda, powdered soft drinks and mayonnaise on a regular basis. The energy come mainly from lipid and refined sugars. Taking into account the increased incidence of obesity observed in this age group in recent years, the consumption of these foods would be an unhealthy habit for a population in the middle stage of growth and adoption of eating habits.

EDTA ADC values were close to those obtained by Cagnasso et al (11), in a survey of children and adolescents of both sexes, aged from 3 to 18 years, from the city of Buenos Aires (EDTA ADC = 0.04 mg/kg/day, 1.6% of the ADI). However, the EDTA ADC value is lower than those obtained in other Latin American countries like Brazil, Chile and Mexico, where 0.18 mg/kg/day, 0.40 mg/kg/day and 0.48 mg/kg/day, EDTA ADC who were found, respectively (15). These differences could be due to the different food habits and because in these countries, the use of EDTA in a wider range of products is allowed. Coinciding with the results of Cagnasso et al (11), sex and age did not affect EDTA ADC, and soft drinks and mayonnaise were the foods that contribute most to the EDTA ADC.

The hypothetical EDTA consumption from breakfast cereals adds to EDTA ADC calculated from the intake of food which EDTA addition is allowed, the potential EDTA ADC would be 0.46 ± 0.32 mg/kg/day, representing 18.4% of the ADI (2.5 mg/kg/day). In this case, 4 subjects would have a consumption of 0.72 ± 0.06 mg/kg/day, representing 28.8% of the ADI. CONCLUSIONS The results show that the EDTA ADC observed in children and adolescents from the city of Santa Fe (0.06 mg/kg/day) was below to the maximum value of IDA (2.5 mg/kg/day), being soda the food that contributed most to EDTA intake.

This study shows that fortification of breakfast cereal with FeNaEDTA would have a significant influence on EDTA ADC. However, the EDTA ADC would not exceed the ADI for EDTA, especially when it is consider that the methodology used (food frequency questionnaire) tends to overestimate the consumption. Thus, it can be assumed that the actual intake of EDTA would be less than that found in this study.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank Melina Erben for her contribution in data collection.

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