Overview
This review synthesizes literature on dietary cadmium (Cd) exposure, its mechanisms of toxicity (oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, kidney tubular dysfunction), and the potential ameliorating effects of antioxidant vitamins (C, E, A, and D). The paper includes a detailed overview of dietary Cd sources relevant to the food supply, identifying rice, potatoes, wheat, and leafy vegetables as the primary dietary contributors accounting for approximately 40 to 60 percent of total dietary Cd intake in European populations.
Key numbers
Rice, potatoes, and wheat collectively account for approximately 40 to 60 percent of dietary cadmium intake in European populations (based on EFSA data). Tolerable weekly intake (TWI) for Cd established by EFSA is 2.5 µg/kg body weight. The paper summarises organ-level Cd accumulation data from multiple human biomonitoring studies, with kidney cortex accumulation as the primary endpoint.
Methods (brief)
Narrative review of published human epidemiological and animal experimental studies. No primary data collection. Sources include EFSA, WHO/FAO, and peer-reviewed journals.
Implications
Certification: Supports HMT&C emphasis on Cd across grain-based, potato-based, and vegetable-based products. Reinforces the dietary exposure framing for cumulative exposure assessments.
Courses: Useful for modules on Cd toxicology, dietary sources, and vulnerable population framing (kidney disease patients, high-grain consumers).
App: The 40 to 60 percent contribution from rice, potatoes, and wheat supports ingredient-level risk scoring for Cd.
Microbiome: Not specifically addressed; primary focus is oxidative stress and vitamin-mediated protection.
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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 |