Macro and trace mineral constituents and radionuclides in mushrooms: health benefits and risks

Abstract

This article reviews and updates data on macro and trace elements and radionuclides in edible wild-grown and cultivated mushrooms. A huge biodiversity of mushrooms and spread of certain species over different continents makes the study on their multi-element constituents highly challenging. A few edible mushrooms are widely cultivated and efforts are on to employ them (largely Agaricus spp., Pleurotus spp., and Lentinula edodes) in the production of selenium-enriched food (mushrooms) or nutraceuticals (by using mycelia) and less on species used by traditional medicine, e.g., Ganoderma lucidum. There are also attempts to enrich mushrooms with other elements than Se and a good example is enrichment with lithium. Since minerals of nutritional value are common constituents of mushrooms collected from natural habitats, the problem is however their co-occurrence with some hazardous elements including Cd, Pb, Hg, Ag, As, and radionuclides. Discussed is also the problem of erroneous data on mineral compounds determined in mushrooms.

Fig. 1

Proton- and organic acid ligand-mediated dissolution of metals of soil components/minerals and their transfer to fruit body (modified from Gadd 2004)

Fig. 2

Selenium in mushrooms such as Laccaria laccata, Lactarius deliciosus, Leccinum rufum, Leccinum scabrum, Lepista nuda, Lyophylum decastes, Lyophylum connatum, and Lyophylum fomosum by several authors and techniques (mean values—data adapted from the references cited, respectively; color figure available online) [dark shadowed bars (in red online) relate to suspicious results because of highly excessive values reported due to selection of improper method of determination; the empty bars (in white online) relate to methods of measurement which can give incorrect result due to low sensitivity or nonspecific interferences that are difficult to control; and the light shadowed bars with askew lines (shadowed in bluish online) are data that appear to be acceptable and by valid methods] (from Falandysz 2013)

Fig. 3

Selenium in mushrooms such as Cantharellus cibarius, Chroogompus rutilus, Clitocybe odora, Collybia meculata, and Coprinus comatus by several authors and techniques (mean values—adapted; color figure available online) (from Falandysz 2013)