BIOAVAILABILITY OF CADMIUM FROM CRAB HEPATOPANCREAS AND MUSHROOM IN RELATION TO INORGANIC CADMIUM - A 9-WEEK FEEDING STUDY IN MICE

The bioavailability of Cd from boiled crab hepatopancreas and dried mu shroom was studied in relation to that of inorganic Cd (CdCl2). Female Balb/c mice were fed with diets containing 0.4 ppm Cd from either boi led crab (Cancer pagurus) hepatopancreas or dried mushroom (Agaricus a ugustus), or as inorganic Cd (CdCl2). A control group received low Cd (<0.007 ppm) feed, and did not accumulate detectable levels of Cd duri ng 9 wk of exposure. Using Cd accumulation in the liver and kidney as a measure of Cd absorption, it was indicated that the bioavailability of Cd from boiled crab hepatopancreas is slightly lower than that of C d from mushroom and inorganic Cd. Fractionation of Cd in boiled crab h epatopancreas and mushroom indicated that Cd in crab hepatopancreas ma inly is associated with denaturated proteins with low solubility, wher eas a large fraction of Cd in dried mushroom is associated with solubl e ligands. This difference in speciation of Cd may be a reason for the lower bioavailability of crab Cd than that of mushroom Cd. The differ ence in bioavailability is, however, low and as a safety measure it is recommended that human consumption of both crab hepatopancreas and wi ld mushrooms with high Cd levels should be restricted.