Overview
This retrospective study reports the lead, cadmium and mercury content of 90 protein and amino acid dietary supplement products submitted for registration to the Public Health Institute of Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina during 2018 and 2019. No samples were found to exceed the reference allowed values for the jurisdiction (lead 3.0 mg/kg, cadmium 1.0 mg/kg, mercury 0.1 mg/kg).
Key numbers
Lead and cadmium (Table 2, n=90):
- Lead: all samples below the detection limit, <0.01 mg/kg (<10 µg/kg)
- Cadmium: all samples below the detection limit, <0.03 mg/kg (<30 µg/kg)
Mercury (Table 2 and Table 3, n=90):
- Range: 0.008 to <0.10 mg/kg (8 to <100 µg/kg)
- Mean: 0.0095 mg/kg (9.5 µg/kg)
- Standard deviation: 0.0007 mg/kg (0.7 µg/kg)
All mercury concentrations were within the allowed limit of 0.10 mg/kg. The reference standards applied were: lead 3.0 mg/kg, cadmium 1.0 mg/kg, mercury 0.10 mg/kg (domestic food safety regulation consistent with European Commission Regulation (EU) No 2023/915 predecessor).
Methods (brief)
Lead and cadmium determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS; UNICAM device). Mercury determined by amalgamation AAS using a direct mercury analyzer (DMA-80) with no prior sample preparation. Statistical analysis limited to descriptive statistics (n, min, max) for lead and cadmium; mean and standard deviation for mercury.
Evidence Fitness
Regulatory surveillance context: samples were submitted by manufacturers for registration, not randomly sampled from retail. This creates potential selection bias toward compliant products. No matrix breakdown by supplement type (protein powder, amino acid, weight gainer) is provided; the product universe likely includes both whey-based and plant-based products. Lead and cadmium were entirely non-detect under relatively high LODs (Pb not stated, cadmium (Cd) not stated), limiting the ability to characterize the lower tail of contamination. Mercury data are the principal contribution. Tier B for the absence of LOD/LOQ data and regulatory-submission sampling frame.
Related evidence
- Whey
- Non-soy protein sources
- Ingredient class — protein/collagen powders
- Lead
- Cadmium
- Mercury
- A human health risk assessment of heavy metal ingestion among consumers of protein powder supplements
Update history
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