Abstract

FRANCO TOBON, Yuly Nataly  and  RAMIREZ BOTERO, Claudia María. Benzo[a]pyrene from food and cancer. Perspect Nut Hum [online]. 2013, vol.15, n.1, pp.99-112. ISSN 0124-4108.

Background: Benzo[a]pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon which has been related with adverse health outcomes. Food is a source of benzo[a]pyrene; which is produced during industrial processing or cooking. Objective: To review information about benzo(a)pyrene formation in food, biological activation, association with cancer, food content and regulation of benzo(a)pyrene content in human food. Methods: A literature search from national and international scientific databases was developed. Results: benzo[a]pyrene ingested is absorbed by the intestine metabolized and activated, predominantly, by the liver. Animal studies have associated benzo[a]pyrene with esophagus, stomach, intestine, skin, bladder, lung, and liver cancer. Benzo[a]pyrene is potentially toxic to the fetus, due to it passes trough placenta. Benzo[a]pyrene amounts in some foods exceed the maximum level allowed by the European Commission; which periodically updates legislation on this topic. In Colombia there is not regulation about benzo[a]pyrene. Conclusion: benzo[a]pyrene in food generates compounds that may be associated with cancer, mainly gastrointestinal cancer. The European Commission regularly updates regulation about benzo[a] pyrene content in foods. Colombia does not have regulation on this topic.

Keywords : benzo[a]pyrene; food; anticarcinogenic agents; xenobiotics; carcinogenic; genotoxic; mutagenic; polycyclic hydrocarbons; aromatic.

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