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Multi-elemental Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Commercial Yerba Mate from Brazil

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Abstract

Consumption of yerba mate occurs mostly in the form of hot infusion (chimarrão). Water solubility of elements found in commercialized yerba mate is needed to establish nutritional value and risks associated with potentially toxic elements. In this study, yerba mate products marketed in three Brazilian states (Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul) for chimarrão were analyzed. Total (dry product) and hot water-soluble concentrations of Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP–MS). Total concentrations of the ten top elements followed the order of K>Ca>Mg>Mn>P>S>Al>Fe>Ba>Zn. The most soluble elements were B, Cs, Ni, Rb, and K, with values greater than 80%. The lowest water-soluble elements were V, Fe, and Ti (values <10%), followed by Ba, Cd, Al, As, Sr, Ca, and Pb with solubility between 10 and 20%. Although total Cd levels in yerba mate products were often above those permitted by South America legislation, estimated daily consumption intake indicated no risk associated with the chimarrão beverage. Manganese was the micronutrient with the highest total and soluble levels in yerba mate, which surpassed recommended daily intake values when considering a consumption amount of 50 g day−1 of yerba mate as chimarrão. The consumption of yerba mate is safe and contributes to intake of nutrients. The Cd and Pb reference values of yerba mate products sold in South America should be revised.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article (and its supplementary information files).

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the University of Nottingham laboratory staff Lolita Wilson and Saul Vazquez Reina for analytical support. ACVM is grateful to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for financial support (Grant Numbers 99999.001631/2015-02 and 306908/2016-6) and to Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for scholarship support.

Funding

This study was funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (Grant Numbers 99999.001631/2015-02 and 306908/2016-6) and to Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soils and Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

    Nayara Caroline Majewski Ulbrich, Eloá Moura Araujo, Antônio Carlos Vargas Motta & Ederlan Magri

  2. Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

    Luciane Lemos do Prado

  3. Federal Institute of Southeast of Minas Gerais, Barbacena, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Julierme Zimmer Barbosa

  4. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Federal Technological University of Paraná, Medianeira, Paraná, Brazil

    Giovana Poggere

  5. USDA-ARS National Soil Dynamics Laboratory, 411 South Donahue Drive, Auburn, AL, USA

    Stephen A. Prior

  6. Science School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Nottingham, UK

    Scott D. Young & Martin R. Broadley

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  1. Nayara Caroline Majewski Ulbrich
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  2. Luciane Lemos do Prado
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Contributions

Nayara Caroline Majewski Ulbrich: writing (original draft), conceptualization, methodology, and investigation. Luciane Lemos do Prado: writing (review and editing), conceptualization, methodology, and investigation. Julierme Zimmer Barbosa: writing (review and editing), conceptualization, and investigation. Eloá Moura Araujo: review and editing, software, and formal analysis. Giovana Poggere: writing—review and editing. Antônio Carlos Vargas Motta: writing (review and editing), conceptualization, methodology, and investigation. Stephen A. Prior: writing (review and editing) and investigation. Ederlan Magri: writing (review and editing), conceptualization, methodology, and investigation. Scott D. Young: writing (review and editing) and investigation. Martin R. Broadley: writing (review and editing) and investigation.

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Correspondence to Nayara Caroline Majewski Ulbrich.

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Ulbrich, N.C.M., do Prado, L.L., Barbosa, J.Z. et al. Multi-elemental Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Commercial Yerba Mate from Brazil. Biol Trace Elem Res 200, 1455–1463 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-021-02736-9

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