Abstract
Furfuryl alcohol is a heat-induced food contaminant, classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The proximal carcinogen 2-sulfoxymethylfuran leads to adduct formation in DNA and proteins (e.g., N-((furan-2-yl)methyl)-Val (FFA-Val) in hemoglobin). This study analyzed human erythrocyte samples from two studies for the presence of FFA-Val: the Risks and Benefits of a Vegan Diet study (RBVD; 72 adults) and the ENVIRonmental influence ON early AGEing birth cohort study (ENVIRONAGE; 100 mother-newborn pairs). In the RBVD study, FFA-Val levels are lower in vegans compared to omnivores (median 13.0 vs 15.8pmol g-1 hemoglobin, p = 0.008), and lower in non-smokers compared to smokers (median 14.1 vs 17.0pmol g-1 hemoglobin, p = 0.003). In the birth cohort, FFA-Val levels are distinctly higher in maternal compared to newborn samples (median 15.2 vs 2.2pmol g-1 hemoglobin, p < 0.001). FFA-Val, hitherto detected only in blood samples of mice, is quantifiable in all human samples, indicating a general exposure to furfuryl alcohol. The low adduct levels in blood samples from newborn children suggested that the placenta is a barrier to furfuryl alcohol. Dietary habits and tobacco smoking are two main influencing factors on the formation of FFA-Val, which may be of use as a biomarker of exposure to furfuryl alcohol.
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