Dietary Compounds to Reduce in Vivo Inorganic Arsenic Bioavailability

Abstract

It is estimated that approximately 200 million people are exposed to arsenic levels above the World Health Organization provisional guideline value, and various agencies have indicated the need to reduce this exposure. In view of the difficulty of removing arsenic from water and food, one alternative is to reduce its bioavailability (the amount that reaches the systemic circulation after ingestion). In this study, dietary components [glutathione, tannic acid, and Fe(III)] were used to achieve this goal. As(III) or As(V) (1 mg/kg body weight) was administered daily to BALB/c mice, along with the dietary components, for 15 days. The results confirm the efficacy of Fe(III) and glutathione as reducers of arsenic bioavailability and tissue accumulation. Also, these treatments did not result in reductions of Ca, K, P, and Fe contents in the liver. These data suggest that use of these two compounds could be part of valid strategies for reducing inorganic arsenic exposure in chronically exposed populations.