Contaminantes inorgânicos em suplementos alimentares

Abstract

Dietary supplements have gained prominence in the last decade, and their consumption and production has increased dramatically. In search of health, the population has seen in these products the opportunity to lead a healthier lifestyle. However, a number of problems have been encountered. The legislation for supplements is not yet well defined, making quality control a difficult task. Another problem, is the contamination, which can come from the raw material and the manufacturing process. Several plants absorb metals from the soil, and since many of these dietary supplements use them as raw materials, the risk of contamination by heavy metals is a constant problem. This study provides a bibliographical review of the last decade regarding inorganic contaminants in dietary supplements, showing that several of them pose a risk to human health.