Appraisal of potentially toxic metals contamination in protein supplements for muscle growth: A chemometric approach and associated human health risks

Background

The use of protein supplements by athletes has risen due to their effectiveness in meeting dietary needs. However, there is a growing concern about the presence of potentially toxic metals (PTMs. Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in these supplements. Consequently, it is crucial to evaluate the levels of these PTMs to ensure the safety of the supplements.

Methods

The objective of the current study was to assess the PTMs concentrations in protein supplements and examine any possible health hazards. Twenty-five samples of protein supplements were purchased from different pharmacies to screen them for metals. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was utilized to analyze metal content. Additionally, chemometric methods such as Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC), principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were employed to identify possible sources of PTMs contamination in protein supplements.

Results

Concentration ranges for PTMs were found as, Al (0.03–3.05 mg/kg), Cr (0.11–0.89 mg/kg), Mn (1.13–8.40 mg/kg), Ni (0.06–0.71 mg/kg), Cu (1.05–5.51 mg/kg), Zn (2.14–27.10 mg/kg), Cd (0.01–0.78 mg/kg), and Pb (0.06–0.57 mg/kg). The weekly intake of Cd exceeded the level of tolerable weekly intake (TWI) set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Conclusion

Athletes, bodybuilders, fitness enthusiasts, dieters, young adults and adolescents, and health-conscious individuals should be conscious of Cd concentration as it does not compliance the TWI set by EFSA. Target hazard quotient (THQ < 1), hazard index (HI < 1), margin of exposure (MOE ≥ 1), percentile permitted daily exposure (% PDE < 100), and cumulative cancer risk (CCR < 1 × 10⁻³) analyses revealed that there are no appreciable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks associated with the use of these products.