Effect of a Supplementation with Two Quelites on Urinary Excretion of Arsenic in Adolescents Exposed to Water Contaminated with the Metalloid in a Community in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico

Abstract

Quelites are Mexican wild plants, reported as excellent sources of nutritional compounds such as amino acids (serine, glycine, and cysteine), minerals (Mg, Fe, and Zn), and phytochemicals, as phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid) and flavonoids (phloridzin and naringenin); on the other hand, high biological activity has been shown in these compounds. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of a supplementation with two endemic quelites of Mexico (Chenopodium berlandieri L. and Portulaca Oleracea L.); in addition to supplementation, a nutritional intervention was performed; the biomarkers of hemoglobin (Hb), urinary malondialdehyde (UMDA), and urinary arsenic (UAs) were measured in adolescents exposed to arsenic. A clinical intervention study was conducted in 27 adolescents ages 11 to 12 years for 4 weeks. Weekly anthropometric and dietary evaluations were carried out, as well as the concentration of Hb; the UMDA and UAs were performed by plate-based colorimetric measurement and atomic absorption spectrophotometry with the hydrides generation system, respectively. The results showed that UMDA concentrations had a significant improvement in the supplemented group (SG) vs. control group (CG) (SG = 1.59 ± 0.89 µM/g creatinine vs. CG = 2.90 ± 0.56 µM/g creatinine) in the second week of intervention; on the other hand, the supplemented group showed an increase in Hb levels (15.12 ± 0.99 g/dL) in the same week; finally after the second week, an increase in UAs levels was observed significantly compared to the baseline value (Baseline: 56.85; Week 2: 2.02 µg/g creatinine). Therefore, the results show that the mixture of quelites (a rich source of phytochemicals and nutrients) improved hemoglobin and UMDA levels, and urinary arsenic excretion from the second week in the exposed population.

Keywords: arsenic; quelites; supplementation.

Figure 1

Flow diagram of patient progress through the phases of the randomized trial.

Figure 2

Concentrations of (a) Hb (Hemoglobin) (mean ± SD) and (b) UMDA (Urinary malondialdehyde) (mean ± SD) before, during, and after 4 weeks of supplementation in the supplemented and control group (W0: baseline; W1: week 1; W2: week 2; W3: week 3; W4: week 4). * Statistically significant difference between groups according to the independent samples t-Test (p < 0.001).

Figure 3

UAs (Urinary arsenic) (median) concentration by sex in the supplemented group (a) and control group (b) (W0: baseline; W1: week 1; W2: week 2; W3: week 3; W4: week 4). * Statistically significant difference by sex according to the Mann–Whitney U test (p < 0.05).

Figure 4

(a) Comparison of UAs (Urinary arsenic) concentrations (median) in the supplemented group and control group (W0: baseline; W1: week 1; W2: week 2; W3: week 3; W4: week 4). ** Statistically significant difference between groups according to the Mann–Whitney U test (p < 0.001); (b) Comparison of UAs concentration (median) between supplemented and control group per week of treatment. The Friedman and Wilcoxon tests were carried out to determine differences between weeks of supplementation.