Overview
Brzezinska-Rojek et al. measured 19 elements in 37 beetroot-based dietary supplements (tablets, capsules, and powders) available in Poland, using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES; Agilent 4210). Products were homogenized and microwave-digested (Anton Paar Multiwave Go); recoveries 80–120%; LOQ values ranged by element (Pb LOQ 0.035 mg/kg, Cd LOQ 0.066 mg/kg, Al LOQ 0.26 mg/kg). The safety-critical finding is that five products exceeded 4–134% of the PTMI for cadmium, two products delivered 11–12% of the PTWI for aluminum per daily dose, and three products provided Ba at 1.085–1.331 µg/daily dose. Lead was below LOQ in all 37 samples (LOQ = 0.035 mg/kg). Powders generally contained the highest element concentrations per daily dose, substantially exceeding tablets and capsules, because powder daily portions (3–15 g/day) are far larger by mass.
Key numbers
Concentrations reported as µg per daily dose (µg/d.d.); tablet n=10, capsule n=14, powder n=13. Data from Table 2 of the source.
Cd (µg/d.d.) — only in samples above LOQ:
- Tablets (n=2 above LOQ): mean 34, SD 43, range 3–64
- Capsules (n=3 above LOQ): mean 28, SD 43, range 2.3–78
- Powders: all samples above LOQ but Cd concentrations reported relative to PTMI
Five products were “significantly contaminated with Cd (4–134% of PTMI Cd).” EU ML for Cd in dietary supplements: 1 mg/kg.
Pb: below LOQ (0.035 mg/kg) in all 37 samples.
Al (µg/d.d.):
- Tablets (n=10): mean 14, SD 9.1, range 2.6–28
- Capsules (n=14): mean 51, SD 162, range 0.70–614
- Powders (n=13): mean 471, SD 817, range 1.6–2420
Two products delivered 11–12% of the PTWI for Al per daily dose (JECFA PTWI for Al: 2 mg/kg b.w./week).
Ba (µg/d.d.):
- Powders: mean 517, SD 473, range 0.96–1331; three products at 1085–1331 µg/d.d. (compared to RfD threshold)
Methods (brief)
MP-AES (Agilent 4210) at element-specific wavelengths after microwave acid digestion (HNO3; Anton Paar Multiwave Go). LOQ (mg/kg): Pb 0.035, Cd 0.066, Al 0.26, Ni 0.021, Cr 0.0082, Ba 0.63. Recoveries 80–120%; R² 0.986–1.000. Triplicates for all samples. Note: MP-AES is a total-metals technique; all arsenic and chromium would be total values if measured, but As was not among the 19 reported analytes; Cr was measured as total Cr.
Implications
Certification: Beetroot dietary supplements on the Polish market show Cd contamination at levels reaching 134% of PTMI in some products, concentrated in capsule and powder forms. Pb was universally below LOQ. These findings are relevant to the supplement category where beetroot is a significant ingredient.
Courses: Illustrates the risk-tiering of supplement physical form: powders deliver far higher metal doses per daily use than tablets or capsules, due to larger per-serving weights. Beetroot as a root vegetable is a known Cd accumulator, and concentrated dried forms amplify that signal.
App: Beetroot dietary supplements (PL): Cd in 5/37 products at 4–134% of PTMI per daily dose; Pb <LOQ in all; Al up to 2420 µg/d.d. in powders.
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Update history
The five most recent substantive edits to this page, classified major (evidence or structure moved), correction (a published value or statement was wrong and has been fixed), or minor (narrative rewritten without changing the underlying evidence). Each description is derived from what the edit did to this page; the linked commit is the authoritative record, routine regeneration passes are excluded, and the full version history lives in git. When DOI minting comes online (see schema docs), each entry below will also link to a version-pinned DataCite DOI.
| Commit | Date | Change | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| a8052bb | 2026-08-09 | major | 6 sections added; narrative text revised |