Urinary Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolites in Mate Drinkers in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: Background: Consumption of maté, an infusion of the herb Ilex paraguariensis (yerba maté), is associated with increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the carcinogenic mechanism is unclear. Commercial brands of yerba maté contain high levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are acquired during the traditional drying process. The purpose of this study was to characterize exposure to PAHs in maté drinkers over a wide range of maté consumption.Methods: We recruited 244 adults who answered a questionnaire and collected a fasting spot urine specimen. We quantified urinary concentrations of seven PAH metabolites and assessed associations between self-reported recent maté consumption and urinary PAH metabolites by multivariate regression.Resul

SUBMITTER: Lopes AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5835188 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature