Acrylamide: increased concentrations in homemade food and first evidence of its variable absorption from food, variable metabolism and placental and breast milk transfer in humans

Impacts of Acrylamide on testis and spermatozoa

Acrylamide (ACR) is an industrial chemical used to produce polyacrylamide, a synthetic polymer with a wide range of applications. Depending on the dosage, its presence in occupational and environmental sources poses potential health risks to humans and animals. ACR can be formed in starchy foods cooked at high temperatures. Its effects on human sperm are not well understood. Animal studies indicate that ACR induces toxicity in the male reproductive system through oxidative stress mechanisms. Exposure to ACR alters the normal structure of testicular tubules, leading to congestion, interstitial edema, degeneration of spermatogenic cells, formation of abnormal spermatid giant cells, and necrosis and apoptosis. It also disrupts the balance of important biomarkers such as malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione. ACR has a negative impact on mitochondrial function, antioxidant enzymes, ATP production, and sperm membrane integrity, resulting in decreased sperm quality. Furthermore, it interferes with the expression of steroidogenic genes associated with testosterone biosynthesis. This review explores the detrimental effects of ACR on sperm and testicular function and discusses the potential role of antioxidants in mitigating the adverse effects of ACR on male reproduction.

Attenuated neuronal differentiation caused by acrylamide is not related to oxidative stress in differentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Acrylamide (ACR) is a known neurotoxicant and developmental neurotoxicant. As a soft electrophile, ACR reacts with thiol groups in cysteine. One hypothesis of ACR induced neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) is conjugation with reduced glutathione (GSH) leading to GSH depletion, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and further oxidative stress and cellular damage. In this regard, we have investigated the effect of ACR on neuronal differentiation, glutathione levels and ROS production in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell model. After 9 days of differentiation and exposure, ACR significantly impaired area neurites per cell at non-cytotoxic concentrations (0.33 μM and 10 μM). Furthermore, 10 μM ACR dysregulated 9 mRNA markers important for neuronal development, 5 of them being associated with cytoskeleton organization and axonal guidance. At the non-cytotoxic concentrations that significantly attenuate neuronal differentiation, ACR did neither decrease the level of GSH or total glutathione levels, nor increased ROS production. In addition, the expression of 5 mRNA markers for cellular stress was assessed with no significant altered regulation after ACR exposure up to 320 μM. Thus, ACR-induced DNT is not due to GSH depletion and increased ROS production, neither at non-cytotoxic nor cytotoxic concentrations, in the SH-SH5Y model during differentiation.

Acrylamide, Applied During Pregnancy and Postpartum Period in Offspring Rats, Significantly Disrupted Myelination by Decreasing the Levels of Myelin-Related Proteins: MBP, MAG, and MOG

Acrylamide (ACR) is a colorless, odorless, and water-soluble solid molecule. In addition to being an important industrial material, ACR is found in fried and baked carbohydrate-rich foods. ACR is regarded as a typical axonal neurotoxin that induces neuropathy. The brain is protected from oxidative damage by vitamin E, which is regarded as the most powerful fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin. This study aimed to reveal the toxic effect of ACR on the development of myelin in the brain at the molecular level and to examine whether Vitamin E has a neuroprotective effect on the harmful effect of ACR. The study was started by dividing 40 pregnant rats into 4 groups and after lactation, the study was continued with offspring rats (females and males offspring rats) from each group. Offspring rats were equally divided into Control, Vitamin E, ACR, ACR + Vitamin E groups. Following the ACR administration, the Water Maze test was applied to evaluate cognitive function. To evaluate the level of demyelination and remyelination, MBP, MAG, and MOG proteins and mRNA levels were performed. In addition, the degeneration of myelin and glial cells was examined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopic analysis. Analysis results showed that ACR administration decreased gene and protein levels of myelin-related proteins MBP, MAG, and MOG. The findings were confirmed by histopathological, immunohistochemical, and microscopic examinations. The application of vitamin E improved this negative effect of ACR. It has been observed that ACR may play a role in the pathogenesis of myelin-related neurodegenerative diseases by causing demyelination during gestation, lactation, and post-lactation. In addition, it has been understood that vitamin E supports myelination as a strong neuroprotective vitamin against the toxicity caused by ACR. Our research results suggest that acrylamide may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis in humans since fast-food-type nutrition is very common today and people are chronically exposed to acrylamide.

The role of microRNAs in acrylamide toxicity

The chemical compound known as Acrylamide (AA) is employed in different industries worldwide and is also found in thermal-processed food. AA has been acting as a reproductive toxicant, carcinogen, and neurotoxic in various animals, which may promote several toxic impacts in animal and human species. Up to now, various studies have focused on the harmful mechanisms and intervention actions of AA. However, the underlying mechanisms that AA and its toxic effects can exert have remained uncertain. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short, non-coding RNAs that are able to act as epigenetic regulators. These molecules can regulate a wide range of cellular and molecular processes. In this regard, it has been shown that different chemical agents can dysregulate miRNAs. To determine the possible AA targets along with mechanisms of its toxicity, it is helpful to study the alteration in the profiles of miRNA regulation following AA intake. The current research aimed to evaluate the miRNAs' mediatory roles upon the AA's toxic potentials. This review study discussed the AA, which is made within the food matrix, the way it is consumed, and the potential impacts of AA on miRNAs and its association with different cancer types and degenerative diseases. The findings of this review paper indicated that AA might be capable of altering miRNA signatures in different tissues and exerting its carcinogen effects.

Biochemical characterization of glutaminase-free L-asparaginases from Himalayan Pseudomonas and Rahnella spp. for acrylamide mitigation

L-asparaginase having low glutaminase activity is important in clinical and food applications. Herein, glutaminase-free L-asparaginase (type I) coding genes from Pseudomonas sp. PCH182 (Ps-ASNase I) and Rahnella sp. PCH162 (Rs-ASNase I) was amplified using gene-specific primers, cloned into a pET-47b(+) vector, and plasmids were transformed into Escherichia coli (E. coli). Further, affinity chromatography purified recombinant proteins to homogeneity with monomer sizes of ~37.0 kDa. Purified Ps-ASNase I and Rs-ASNase I were active at wide pHs and temperatures with optimum activity at 50 °C (492 ± 5 U/mg) and 37 °C (308 ± 4 U/mg), respectively. Kinetic constant Km and Vmax for L-asparagine (Asn) were 2.7 ± 0.06 mM and 526.31 ± 4.0 U/mg for Ps-ASNase I, and 4.43 ± 1.06 mM and 434.78 ± 4.0 U/mg for Rs-ASNase I. Circular dichroism study revealed 29.3 % and 24.12 % α-helix structures in Ps-ASNase I and Rs-ASNase I, respectively. Upon their evaluation to mitigate acrylamide formation, 43 % and 34 % acrylamide (AA) reduction were achieved after pre-treatment of raw potato slices, consistent with 65 % and 59 % Asn reduction for Ps-ASNase I and Rs-ASNase I, respectively. Current findings suggested the potential of less explored intracellular L-asparaginase in AA mitigation for food safety.

From a toxin to an obesogen: a review of potential obesogenic roles of acrylamide with a mechanistic approach

Obesity and obesity-related disorders such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver have become a global health problem. It is well known that the primary cause of obesity is positive energy balance. In addition, obesity is the consequence of complex gene and environment interactions that result in excess calorie intake being stored as fat. However, it has been revealed that there are other factors contributing to the worsening of obesity. The presence of nontraditional risk factors, such as environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals, has recently been associated with obesity and comorbidities caused by obesity. The aim of this review was to examine the evidence and potential mechanisms for acrylamide having endocrine-disrupting properties contributing to obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. Recent studies have suggested that exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting obesogens may be a risk factor contributing to the current obesity epidemic, and that one of these obesogens is acrylamide, an environmental and industrial compound produced by food processing, particularly the processing of foods such as potato chips, and coffee. In addition to the known harmful effects of acrylamide in humans and experimental animals, such as neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity, acrylamide also has an obesogenic effect. It has been shown in the literature to a limited extent that acrylamide may disrupt energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, adipocyte differentiation, and various signaling pathways, and may exacerbate the disturbances in metabolic and biochemical parameters observed as a result of obesity. Acrylamide exerts its main potential obesogenic effects through body weight increase, worsening of the levels of obesity-related blood biomarkers, and induction of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. Additional mechanisms may be discovered. Further experimental studies and prospective cohorts are needed, both to supplement existing knowledge about acrylamide and its effects, and to clarify its established relationship with obesity and its comorbidities.

Determinants of exposure to acrylamide in European children and adults based on urinary biomarkers: results from the "European Human Biomonitoring Initiative" HBM4EU participating studies

Little is known about exposure determinants of acrylamide (AA), a genotoxic food-processing contaminant, in Europe. We assessed determinants of AA exposure, measured by urinary mercapturic acids of AA (AAMA) and glycidamide (GAMA), its main metabolite, in 3157 children/adolescents and 1297 adults in the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative. Harmonized individual-level questionnaires data and quality assured measurements of AAMA and GAMA (urine collection: 2014-2021), the short-term validated biomarkers of AA exposure, were obtained from four studies (Italy, France, Germany, and Norway) in children/adolescents (age range: 3-18 years) and six studies (Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Iceland) in adults (age range: 20-45 years). Multivariable-adjusted pooled quantile regressions were employed to assess median differences (β coefficients) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) in AAMA and GAMA (µg/g creatinine) in relation to exposure determinants. Southern European studies had higher AAMA than Northern studies. In children/adolescents, we observed significant lower AA associated with high socioeconomic status (AAMA:β =  - 9.1 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI - 15.8, - 2.4; GAMA: β =  - 3.4 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI - 4.7, - 2.2), living in rural areas (AAMA:β =  - 4.7 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI - 8.6, - 0.8; GAMA:β =  - 1.1 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI - 1.9, - 0.4) and increasing age (AAMA:β =  - 1.9 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI - 2.4, - 1.4; GAMA:β =  - 0.7 µg/g creatinine, 95% CI - 0.8, - 0.6). In adults, higher AAMA was also associated with high consumption of fried potatoes whereas lower AAMA was associated with higher body-mass-index. Based on this large-scale study, several potential determinants of AA exposure were identified in children/adolescents and adults in European countries.

Maternal acrylamide exposure changes intestinal epithelium, immunolocalization of leptin and ghrelin and their receptors, and gut barrier in weaned offspring

Acrylamide (ACR) is an amide formed as a byproduct in many heat-processed starchy-rich foods. In utero ACR exposure has been associated with restricted fetal growth, but its effects of postnatal functional development of small intestine is completely unknown. The current study investigated the time- and segment-dependent effects of prenatal ACR exposure on morphological and functional development of small intestine in weaned rat offspring. Four groups of pregnant female Wistar rats were exposed to ACR (3 mg/kg b.w./day) for 0, 5, 10 and 15 days during pregnancy. Basal intestinal morphology, immunolocalization of gut hormones responsible for food intake and proteins of intestinal barrier, activity of the intestinal brush border disaccharidases, apoptosis and proliferation in intestinal mucosa were analyzed in offspring at weaning (postnatal day 21). The results showed that in utero ACR exposure disturbs offspring gut structural and functional postnatal development in a time- and segment-depended manner and even a short prenatal exposure to ACR resulted in changes in intestinal morphology, immunolocalization of leptin and ghrelin and their receptors, barrier function, activity of gut enzymes and upregulation of apoptosis and proliferation. In conclusion, prenatal ACR exposure disturbed the proper postnatal development of small intestine.

Evaluation of mRNA markers in differentiating human SH-SY5Y cells for estimation of developmental neurotoxicity

Current guidelines for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) evaluation are based on animal models. These have limitations so more relevant, efficient and robust approaches for DNT assessment are needed. We have used the human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell model to evaluate a panel of 93 mRNA markers that are frequent in Neuronal diseases and functional annotations and also differentially expressed during retinoic acid-induced differentiation in the cell model. Rotenone, valproic acid (VPA), acrylamide (ACR) and methylmercury chloride (MeHg) were used as DNT positive compounds. Tolbutamide, D-mannitol and clofibrate were used as DNT negative compounds. To determine concentrations for exposure for gene expression analysis, we developed a pipeline for neurite outgrowth assessment by live-cell imaging. In addition, cell viability was measured by the resazurin assay. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR after 6 days of exposure during differentiation to concentrations of the DNT positive compounds that affected neurite outgrowth, but with no or minimal effect on cell viability. Methylmercury affected cell viability at lower concentrations than neurite outgrowth, hence the cells were exposed with the highest non-cytotoxic concentration. Rotenone (7.3nM) induced 32 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), ACR (70µM) 8 DEGs, and VPA (75µM) 16 DEGs. No individual genes were significantly dysregulated by all 3 DNT positive compounds (p<0.05), but 9 genes were differentially expressed by 2 of them. Methylmercury (0.8nM) was used to validate the 9 DEGs. The expression of SEMA5A (encoding semaphorin 5A) and CHRNA7 (encoding nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α7) was downregulated by all 4 DNT positive compounds. None of the DNT negative compounds dysregulated any of the 9 DEGs in common for the DNT positive compounds. We suggest that SEMA5A or CHRNA7 should be further evaluated as biomarkers for DNT studies in vitro since they also are involved in neurodevelopmental adverse outcomes in humans.

Ferric ions release from iron-binding protein: Interaction between acrylamide and human serum transferrin and the underlying mechanisms of their binding

Acrylamide (ACR) is a surprisingly common chemical due to its widespread use in industry and various other applications. However, its toxicity is a matter of grave concern for public health. Even worse, ACR is frequently detected in numerous fried or baked carbohydrate-rich foods due to the Maillard browning reaction. Herein, this study intends to delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms of Fe ions released from iron-binding protein transferrin (TF) after acrylamide binding by combining multiple methods, including multiple complementary spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectroscopy), isothermal titration calorimetry, ICP-MS measurements, and modeling simulations. Results indicated that free Fe was released from TF only under high-dose ACR exposure (>100 μM). Acrylamide binding induced the loosening and unfolding of the backbone and polypeptide chain and destroyed the secondary structure of TF, thereby leading to protein misfolding and denaturation of TF and forming a larger size of TF agglomerates. Of which, H-binding and van der Waals force are the primary driving force during the binding interaction between ACR and TF. Further modeling simulations illustrated that ACR prefers to bind to the hinge region connecting the C-lobe and N-lobe, after that it attaches to the Fe binding sites of this protein, which is the cause of free Fe release from TF. Moreover, ACR interacted with the critical fluorophore residues (Tyr, Trp, and Phe) in the binding pocket, which might explain such a phenomenon of fluorescence sensitization. The two binding sites (Site 2 and Site 3) located around the Fe (III) ions with low-energy conformations are more suitable for ACR binding. Collectively, our study demonstrated that the loss of iron in TF caused by acrylamide-induced structural and conformational changes of transferrin.

Administration of Different Doses of Acrylamide Changed the Chemical Coding of Enteric Neurons in the Jejunum in Gilts

Excessive consumption of highly processed foods, such as chips, crisps, biscuits and coffee, exposes the human to different doses of acrylamide. This chemical compound has a multidirectional, adverse effect on human and animal health, including the central and peripheral nervous systems. In this study, we examined the effect of different doses of acrylamide on the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the porcine jejunum. Namely, we took into account the quantitative changes of neurons located in the jejunum wall expressing substance P (SP), galanin (GAL), a neuronal form of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART). The obtained results indicate that acrylamide causes a statistically significant increase in the number of neurons immunoreactive to SP, GAL, VAChT and CART in all types of examined enteric plexuses and a significant drop in the population of nNOS-positive enteric neurons. Changes were significantly greater in the case of a high dose of acrylamide intoxication. Our results indicate that acrylamide is not indifferent to ENS neurons. A 28-day intoxication with this substance caused marked changes in the chemical coding of ENS neurons in the porcine jejunum.

Prenatal acrylamide exposure results in time-dependent changes in liver function and basal hematological, and oxidative parameters in weaned Wistar rats

Acrylamide (ACR) is a toxic compound commonly found in fried, baked and heat-processed starchy foods. The current study investigated the time-dependent effects of maternal exposure to non-toxic ACR doses on the oxidative stress, liver function, and basal blood morphology of the rat offspring. Pregnant, Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group or the groups administrated with ACR (3 mg/kg b.w./day): long exposure for 15 days, medium exposure for 10 days and short exposure for 5 days during pregnancy. Body mass, blood morphology and hematology, serum concentrations of growth hormone, IGF-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and insulin, liver histomorphometry, liver activity of beclin1, LC2B and caspase3, markers of oxidative stress and the activity of antioxidative enzymes in blood serum and the liver were measured in offspring at weaning (postnatal day 21). Even short prenatal exposure to ACR led to oxidative stress and resulted in changes in liver histomorphometry and upregulation of autophagy/apoptosis. However, the most significant changes were observed following the long period of ACR exposure. This study has shown for the first time that ACR is responsible for changes in body mass in a time-dependent manner, which could lead to more serious illnesses like overweight and diabetes later in life.

Developmental neurotoxicity of acrylamide and its metabolite glycidamide in a human mixed culture of neurons and astrocytes undergoing differentiation in concentrations relevant for human exposure

Neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells were used to investigate effects of exposure to the food contaminant acrylamide (AA) and its main metabolite glycidamide (GA) on key neurodevelopmental processes. Diet is an important source of human AA exposure for pregnant women, and AA is known to pass the placenta and the newborn may also be exposed through breast feeding after birth. The NSCs were exposed to AA and GA (1 ×10^-8 - 3 ×10^-3 M) under 7 days of proliferation and up to 28 days of differentiation towards a mixed culture of neurons and astrocytes. Effects on cell viability was measured using Alamar Blue™ cell viability assay, alterations in gene expression were assessed using real time PCR and RNA sequencing, and protein levels were quantified using immunocytochemistry and high content imaging. Effects of AA and GA on neurodevelopmental processes were evaluated using endpoints linked to common key events identified in the existing developmental neurotoxicity adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). Our results suggest that AA and GA at low concentrations (1 ×10^-7 - 1 ×10^-8 M) increased cell viability and markers of proliferation both in proliferating NSCs (7 days) and in maturing neurons after 14-28 days of differentiation. IC₅₀ for cell death of AA and GA was 5.2 × 10^-3 M and 5.8 × 10^-4 M, respectively, showing about ten times higher potency for GA. Increased expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concomitant with decreased synaptogenesis were observed for GA exposure (10^-7 M) only at later differentiation stages, and an increased number of astrocytes (up to 3-fold) at 14 and 21 days of differentiation. Also, AA exposure gave tendency towards decreased differentiation (increased percent Nestin positive cells). After 28 days, neurite branch points and number of neurites per neuron measured by microtubule-associated protein 2 (Map2) staining decreased, while the same neurite features measured by βIII-Tubulin increased, indicating perturbation of neuronal differentiation and maturation.

Acrylamide levels in smoke from conventional cigarettes and heated tobacco products and exposure assessment in habitual smokers

Acrylamide (AA) is a neurotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic compound developed during heating at high temperatures. Foods such as potatoes, biscuits, bread and coffee are the main foodstuffs containing AA. Cigarette smoke may be a significant additional source of exposure. However, AA content may vary among different types of cigarettes. The study aimed to evaluate the AA content in conventional cigarettes (CC) and heated tobacco products (HTP) and its resulting exposure through their use. AA levels from the two types of cigarettes were determined by GC-MS and the daily exposure to AA was also ascertained. The margin of exposure (MOE) was calculated for neurotoxic and carcinogenic risk based on benchmark dose lower confidence limit for a 10% response (BMDL10) of 0.43 and 0.17, 0.30, and 1.13 mg/kgbw/day. AA level in CC ranged from 235 to 897 ng/cigarette, whereas HTP reported AA levels in the range of 99-187 ng/cigarette. The data showed a low neurotoxic risk for either CC or HTP, whereas a carcinogenic risk emerged through the smoking of CC based on different Benchmark doses. The carcinogenic risk for CC based on the highest Benchmark dose that was considered showed unsafe levels, as little as 10 CC cigarettes/day, whereas it was almost always of low concern for HTP. Another approach based upon the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) analysis led to similar results, exceeding, in some cases, the safety value of 10-4, as far as CC are concerned. Overall, the results confirmed that CC are a significant source of AA, and its levels were five times higher than in HTP.

Acrylamide in widely consumed foods - a review

Acrylamide (AA) is considered genotoxic, neurotoxic and a 'probable human carcinogen'. It is included in group 2 A of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The formation of AA occurs when starch-based foods are subjected to temperatures higher than 120 °C in an atmosphere with very low water content. The aim of this review is to shed light on the toxicological aspects of AA, showing its regulatory evolution, and describing the most interesting mitigation techniques for each food category involved, with a focus on compliance with EU legislation in the various classes of consumer products of industrial origin in Europe.

Review on Acrylamide: A Hidden Hazard in Fried Carbohydrate-Rich Food

Abstract:

Acrylamide is classified as a hazard whose formation in carbohydrate-rich food cooked at a high temperature has created much interest in the scientific community. The review attempts to comprehend the chemistry and mechanisms of formation of acrylamide and its levels in popular foods. A detailed study of the toxicokinetic and biochemistry, carcinogenicity, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, interaction with biomolecules, and its effects on reproductive health has been presented. The review outlines the various novel and low-cost conventional as well as newer analytical techniques for the detection of acrylamide in foods with the maximum permissible limits. Various effective approaches that can be undertaken in industries and households for the mitigation of levels of acrylamide in foods have also been discussed. This review will assist to provide in depth understanding about acrylamide that will make it simpler to assess the risk to human health from the consumption of foods containing low amounts of acrylamide.

Exposure assessment of Spanish lactating mothers to acrylamide via human biomonitoring

Acrylamide (AA) is an organic compound classified as "Probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2 A) that can be found principally in processed carbohydrate-rich foods and tobacco smoke. In humans, after exposure, AA is rapidly metabolized and excreted in urine, predominantly as N-acetyl-S-(2-carbamoylethyl)-l-cysteine (AAMA), N-acetyl-S-(2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-l-cysteine (GAMA3) and N-Acetyl-3-[(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)sulfinyl]-L-alanine (AAMA-Sul), which can be used as short-term biomarkers of exposure to AA. In this study, the presence of AA metabolites in urine samples of lactating mothers living in Spain (n = 114) was analyzed by "dilute and shoot" and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). All urinary metabolites were detected in 100% of the analyzed samples, with geometric means of 70, 33 and 15 ng ml^-1, for AAMA, AAMA-Sul and GAMA3, respectively. The consumption of coffee, bread and precooked food products were found to be significant predictors of internal exposure to AA. An estimated daily intake (EDI) of AA based on its urinary metabolites was calculated, obtaining mean values between 1.2 and 1.9 μg AA·kg bw^-1·day^-1 in the target population. The risk assessment was evaluated using both reverse and forward dosimetry, showing an average margin of exposure (MOE) of 349 and a hazard quotient (HQ) of 5.5. Therefore, AA exposure should be considered a medium priority for risk assessment follow-up in the Spanish population, since a health concern with respect to non-neoplastic toxicity could not be discarded.

Acrylamide Content in Breast Milk: The Evaluation of the Impact of Breastfeeding Women's Diet and the Estimation of the Exposure of Breastfed Infants to Acrylamide in Breast Milk

Acrylamide in food is formed by the Maillard reaction. Numerous studies have shown that acrylamide is a neurotoxic and carcinogenic compound. The aim of this study was to determine the level of acrylamide in breast milk at different lactation stages and to evaluate the impact of breastfeeding women's diet on the content of this compound in breast milk. The acrylamide level in breast milk samples was determined by LC-MS/MS. Breastfeeding women's diet was evaluated based on the 24 h dietary recall. The median acrylamide level in colostrum (n = 47) was significantly (p < 0.0005) lower than in the mature milk (n = 26)-0.05 µg/L and 0.14 µg/L, respectively. The estimated breastfeeding women's acrylamide intake from the hospital diet was significantly (p < 0.0001) lower than that from the home diet. We found positive-although modest and borderline significant-correlation between acrylamide intake by breastfeeding women from the hospital diet µg/day) and acrylamide level in the colostrum (µg/L). Acrylamide has been detected in human milk samples, and a positive correlation between dietary acrylamide intake by breastfeeding women and its content in breast milk was observed, which suggests that the concentration can be reduced. Breastfeeding women should avoid foods that may be a source of acrylamide in their diet.

Evaluation of acrylamide exposure in pregnant Wistar rats as a risk of developing renal disease in their litters

This study was designed at evaluating the acrylamide (ACR) exposure in pregnant Wistar rats as a risk of developing renal disease in their litters. Four groups of pregnant female rats were used. Group 1 control animals were given 2 ml/kg/day of distilled water. Groups 2, 3, and 4 animals were given oral gavage doses of 2, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day of ACR respectively immediately pregnancy was confirmed. Mother rats were sacrificed 10 weeks after delivery and litters were sacrificed at 13 weeks. Proteinuria was observed in ACR-treated mother rats and their litters. Serum electrolytes, urea, and creatinine values observed in the treated group were deranged for both the mothers and litters respectively. Disruption of nephrogenesis was observed in the litters of ACR-treated mother compared to the control. The results of the effect of ACR on lipid profile indicated a significant elevation in the LDL, cholesterol, and triglyceride compared to the control. There was significant reduction in the SOD, catalase, GSH, and significant elevation in the C-reactive protein and malondialdehyde. Conclusively, exposure to acrylamide during pregnancy is a risk factor for the development of renal disease in the mother rats and their litters.

A Review of Dietary Intake of Acrylamide in Humans

The dietary intake of acrylamide (AA) is a health concern, and food is being monitored worldwide, but the extent of AA exposure from the diet is uncertain. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of estimated dietary intake. We performed a PubMed search identifying studies that used dietary questionnaires and recalls to estimate total dietary AA intake. A total of 101 studies were included, corresponding to 68 original study populations from 26 countries. Questionnaires were used in 57 studies, dietary recalls were used in 33 studies, and 11 studies used both methods. The estimated median AA intake ranged from 0.02 to 1.53 μg/kg body weight/day between studies. Children were represented in 25 studies, and the body-weight-adjusted estimated AA intake was up to three times higher for children than adults. The majority of studies were from Europe (n = 65), Asia (n = 17), and the USA (n = 12). Studies from Asia generally estimated lower intakes than studies from Europe and the USA. Differences in methods undermine direct comparison across studies. The assessment of AA intake through dietary questionnaires and recalls has limitations. The integration of these methods with the analysis of validated biomarkers of exposure/internal dose would improve the accuracy of dietary AA intake exposure estimation. This overview shows that AA exposure is widespread and the large variation across and within populations shows a potential for reduced intake among those with the highest exposure.

Does the food processing contaminant acrylamide cause developmental neurotoxicity? A review and identification of knowledge gaps

There is a worldwide concern on adverse health effects of dietary exposure to acrylamide (AA) due to its presence in commonly consumed foods. AA is formed when carbohydrate rich foods containing asparagine and reducing sugars are prepared at high temperatures and low moisture conditions. Upon oral intake, AA is rapidly absorbed and distributed to all organs. AA is a known human neurotoxicant that can reach the developing foetus via placental transfer and breast milk. Although adverse neurodevelopmental effects have been observed after prenatal AA exposure in rodents, adverse effects of AA on the developing brain has so far not been studied in humans. However, epidemiological studies indicate that gestational exposure to AA impair foetal growth and AA exposure has been associated with reduced head circumference of the neonate. Thus, there is an urgent need for further research to elucidate whether pre- and perinatal AA exposure in humans might impair neurodevelopment and adversely affect neuronal function postnatally. Here, we review the literature with emphasis on the identification of critical knowledge gaps in relation to neurodevelopmental toxicity of AA and its mode of action and we suggest research strategies to close these gaps to better protect the unborn child.

Exposure to acrylamide induces skeletal developmental toxicity in zebrafish and rat embryos

Acrylamide is a well-known carcinogen and neurotoxic substance that has been discovered in frying or baking carbohydrate-rich foods and is widely found in soils and groundwater. The purpose of this study was to investigate the adverse effects of exposure to acrylamide on skeletal development. After treatment with acrylamide in zebrafish embryos, the survival and hatching rates decreased, and the body length shortened, with cartilage malformation and a decrease in skeletal area. Exposure to acrylamide in maternal rats during the lactation period disturbed bone mineral density, serum levels of parathyroid hormone, and the expression of skeletal development-related genes in neonates. Exposure to acrylamide in pregnant rats during the pregnancy period decreased the trabecular density and inhibited cartilage formation by delaying the differentiation of osteoblasts and promoting the maturation of osteoclasts in rat embryos. Furthermore, acrylamide intervention downregulated the expression of chondrocyte and osteoblast differentiation-related genes (sox9a, bmp2, col2a1, and runx2), and upregulated the expression of osteoclast marker genes (rankl and mcsf) in zebrafish and rat embryos at different gestational stages. Our results indicated that exposure to acrylamide dysregulated signature gene and protein expression profiles of skeletal development by suppressing the differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts and cartilage matrix and promoting the formation of osteoclasts, and ultimately induced skeletal abnormality in morphology, which brings increasing attention to the intergenerational toxicity of acrylamide via mother-to-child transmission.

Acrylamide and its metabolite induce neurotoxicity via modulation of protein kinase C and AMP-activated protein kinase pathways

Acrylamide is known as a neurotoxicant found in commonly consumed food as well as in human body. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in neurotoxicity by acrylamide and its metabolite, glycidamide remain largely unknown. In this study, we have examined the interplay between CYP2E1, AMPK, ERK and PKC in acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity associated with autophagy in PC12 cells. Acrylamide-induced cell death was mediated by CYP2E1 expression and the activation of ERK, PKC-ɑ and PKC-δ, whereas AMPK knockdown exacerbated the acrylamide-induced neurotoxic effects. PKC-ɑ, but not PKC-δ, plays an upstream regulator of ERK and AMPK. Moreover, AMPK activation suppressed ERK, and CYP2E1 and AMPK bilaterally inhibit each other. Furthermore, acrylamide increased autophagy with impaired autophagic flux, evidenced by the increased beclin-1, LC3-II and p62 protein. Acrylamide-induced neuronal death was ameliorated by 3-methyladenine, an autophagy inhibitor, whereas neuronal death was exacerbated by chloroquine, a lysosomal inhibitor. Interestingly, PKC-δ siRNA, but not PKC-ɑ siRNA, dramatically reduced acrylamide-induced beclin-1 and LC3-II levels, whereas AMPK siRNA further increased beclin-1, LC3-II and p62 protein levels. Glycidamide, a major metabolite, mimicked acrylamide only with a higher potency. Taken together, acrylamide- and glycidamide-induced neurotoxicity may involve cytotoxic autophagy, which is mediated by interplay between PKCs and AMPK pathways.

Occurrence of acrylamide in selected food products

OBJECTIVE

Acrylamide is a toxic compound found in occupational and non-occupational environment. It originates from industrial use, technological processes in construction as well as food production, water purification, and laboratory use. Adverse effects including neurotoxicity, probably carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, teratogenicity, and reproductive toxicity were reported in many studies. Our study is focused on acrylamide content in selected food products in the Czech Republic.

METHOD

In this study, we determined acrylamide content in selected samples of commonly consumed food products (potato chips, biscuits, popcorn, corn flakes, breakfast cereals, and baked muesli).

RESULTS

The concentration of acrylamide in most samples of potato chips, biscuits and popcorn exceeded the benchmark limits. The acrylamide content in samples of potato chips from one manufacturer in 4 cases out of 5 analysed samples exceeded benchmark limit. On the other hand, no corn flakes sample acrylamide content from the same manufacture exceeded the benchmark limit. With 20 of all analysed samples exceeding the benchmark levels for acrylamide, it can be concluded that 47.6% of samples did not comply with the benchmark level.

CONCLUSION

Dietary intake of frequently consumed food products with the acrylamide content exceeding the recommended comparative value could have adverse effects on the human health. Our study confirmed high amount of acrylamide in some selected food samples. The reduction of dietary burden with acrylamide is possible by complying with the correct technological principles in food preparation.

Acrylamide-Induced Prenatal Programming of Bone Structure in Mammal Model

Acrylamide (AA) is a chemical substance with a potentially carcinogenic effect. Its presence in food or animal food arises from its thermal processing. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of AA exposure (3.0 mg/kg. b.w./day) of pregnant dams during the second half of the pregnancy on bone development in offspring. As an model animal, guinea pig was used. While term body weight of newborns was not influenced by maternal AA treatment, shorter bones with reduced bone diaphysis cross-sectional area were observed in experimental group. Numerous negative, offspring sex-dependent effects of maternal AA exposure were observed in femoral epiphysis and metaphysis as well as the articular and growth plate cartilages. These effects resulted from the AA-induced alterations in bone metabolism, as indicated by the changes in the expression of numerous proteins involved in bone development: receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP-2), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), all of whose expression was measured as well as distribution of immature collagen fibres was determined. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the exposure of pregnant dams to AA negatively affected the structure of compact bone in bone diaphysis, microarchitecture of trabecular bone in metaphysis and epiphysis as well as the structure of the articular and growth plate cartilages in their offspring. The AA-induced bone impairment increased osteoclast differentiation, as observed through the change in the RANKL/OPG ratio, which in turn inhibited osteoblast function by decreasing the expression of other proteins. The data of the present study suggests that maternal AA exposure can result in insufficient bone gain and even bone loss after the birth.

Acrylamide alters CREB and retinoic acid signalling pathways during differentiation of the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line

Acrylamide (ACR) is a known neurotoxicant which crosses the blood–brain barrier, passes the placenta and has been detected in breast milk. Hence, early-life exposure to ACR could lead to developmental neurotoxicity. The aim of this study was to elucidate if non-cytotoxic concentrations of ACR alter neuronal differentiation by studying gene expression of markers significant for neurodevelopment in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell model. Firstly, by using RNASeq we identified two relevant pathways that are activated during 9 days of retinoic acid (RA) induced differentiation i.e. RA receptor (RAR) activation and the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signalling pathways. Next, by qPCR we showed that 1 and 70 µM ACR after 9 days exposure alter the expression of 13 out of 36 genes in the RAR activation pathway and 18 out of 47 in the CREB signalling pathway. Furthermore, the expression of established neuronal markers i.e. BDNF, STXBP2, STX3, TGFB1 and CHAT were down-regulated. Decreased protein expression of BDNF and altered ratio of phosphorylated CREB to total CREB were confirmed by western blot. Our results reveal that micromolar concentrations of ACR sustain proliferation, decrease neurite outgrowth and interfere with signalling pathways involved in neuronal differentiation in the SH-SY5Y cell model.

Early exposure to food contaminants reshapes maturation of the human brain-gut-microbiota axis

Early childhood growth and development is conditioned by the consecutive events belonging to perinatal programming. This critical window of life will be very sensitive to any event altering programming of the main body functions. Programming of gut function, which is starting right after conception, relates to a very well-established series of cellular and molecular events associating all types of cells present in this organ, including neurons, endocrine and immune cells. At birth, this machinery continues to settle with the establishment of extra connection between enteric and other systemic systems and is partially under the control of gut microbiota activity, itself being under the densification and the diversification of microorganisms' population. As thus, any environmental factor interfering on this pre-established program may have a strong incidence on body functions. For all these reasons, pregnant women, fetuses and infants will be particularly susceptible to environmental factors and especially food contaminants. In this review, we will summarize the actual understanding of the consequences of repeated low-level exposure to major food contaminants on gut homeostasis settlement and on brain/gut axis communication considering the pivotal role played by the gut microbiota during the fetal and postnatal stages and the presumed consequences of these food toxicants on the individuals especially in relation with the risks of developing later in life non-communicable chronic diseases.

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived 3D-Neurospheres are Suitable for Neurotoxicity Screening

We present a hiPSC-based 3D in vitro system suitable to test neurotoxicity (NT). Human iPSCs-derived 3D neurospheres grown in 96-well plate format were characterized timewise for 6-weeks. Changes in complexity and homogeneity were followed by immunocytochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. Transcriptional activity of major developmental, structural, and cell-type-specific markers was investigated at weekly intervals to present the differentiation of neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. Neurospheres were exposed to different well-known toxicants with or without neurotoxic effect (e.g., paraquat, acrylamide, or ibuprofen) and examined at various stages of the differentiation with an ATP-based cell viability assay optimized for 3D-tissues. Concentration responses were investigated after acute (72 h) exposure. Moreover, the compound-specific effect of rotenone was investigated by a panel of ER-stress assay, TUNEL assay, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy, and in 3D-spheroid based neurite outgrowth assay. The acute exposure to different classes of toxicants revealed distinct susceptibility profiles in a differentiation stage-dependent manner, indicating that hiPSC-based 3D in vitro neurosphere models could be used effectively to evaluate NT, and can be developed further to detect developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) and thus replace or complement the use of animal models in various basic research and pharmaceutical applications.

Exposure to acrylamide inhibits uterine decidualization via suppression of cyclin D3/p21 and apoptosis in mice

Acrylamide (ACR), a neurotoxicity and carcinogenic chemical, has attracted considerable attention since it is present at high concentrations in thermally cooked carbohydrate-rich foods. ACR exposure significantly increased rate of fetal resorption, and decreased fetal body weights in mice. However, no detailed information is available about the effect of ACR on uterine decidualization, which is a vital process in the establishment of successful pregnancy. Thus, our aim of this study was to explore the effect and mechanism of ACR on uterine decidualization in vivo during mice pregnancy. Mice were gavaged with 0, 10, and 50 mg ACR /kg/day from gestational days (GD) 1 until GD 8, whereas pseudopregnant mice from pseudopregnant day (PPD) 4 until PPD 8. Results indicated ACR treatment dramatically reduced numbers of implanted embryos, and decreased the weights of implantation site and oil-induced uterus. Nevertheless, no significant difference was observed in the weights of no oil-induced uterus between control and ACR-treated group. Furthermore, ACR significantly reduced numbers of polyploidy and PCNA-positive decidual cells and expression of cyclin D3 and p21 proteins, and induced apoptosis of decidua, as presented by up-regulation of Bax and cleaved-caspase-3, and decreased Bcl-2 protein during normal pregnant and pseudopregnant process. In summary, ACR exposure significantly inhibited uterine endometrial decidualization via the apoptosis and suppression of cyclin D3/p21 in mice.

A Review on Acrylamide in Food: Occurrence, Toxicity, and Mitigation Strategies

Acrylamide (AA) is a food contaminant present in a wide range of frequently consumed foods, which makes human exposure to this toxicant unfortunately unavoidable. However, efforts to reduce the formation of AA in food have resulted in some success. This review aims to summarize the occurrence of AA and the potential mitigation strategies of its formation in foods. Formation of AA in foods is mainly linked to Maillard reaction, which is the first feasible route that can be manipulated to reduce AA formation. Furthermore, manipulating processing conditions such as time and temperature of the heating process, and including certain preheating treatments such as soaking and blanching, can further reduce AA formation. Due to the high exposure to AA, recognition of its toxic effect is necessary, especially in developing countries where awareness about AA health risks is still very low. Therefore, this review also focuses on the different toxic effects of AA exposure, including neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and immunotoxicity.

Acrylamide Induced Toxicity and the Propensity of Phytochemicals in Amelioration: A Review

Acrylamide is widely found in baked and fried foods, produced in large amount in industries and is a prime component in toxicity. This review highlights various toxicities that are induced due to acrylamide, its proposed mode of action including oxidative stress cascades and ameliorative mechanisms using phytochemicals. Acrylamide formation, the mechanism of toxicity and the studies on the role of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions are elaborated in this paper. The various types of toxicities caused by Acrylamide and the modulation studies using phytochemicals that are carried out on various type of toxicity like neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, immune system, and skeletal system, as well as embryos have been explored. Lacunae of studies include the need to explore methods for reducing the formation of acrylamide in food while cooking and also better modulators for alleviating the toxicity and associated dysfunctions along with identifying its molecular mechanisms.

Determination of Acrylamide in Biscuits by High-Resolution Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry: A Novel Application

Acrylamide (AA), a molecule which potentially increases the risk of developing cancer, is easily formed in food rich in carbohydrates, such as biscuits, wafers, and breakfast cereals, at temperatures above 120 °C. Thus, the need to detect and quantify the AA content in processed foodstuffs is eminent, in order to delineate the limits and mitigation strategies. This work reports the development and validation of a high-resolution mass spectrometry-based methodology for identification and quantification of AA in specific food matrices of biscuits, by using LC-MS with electrospray ionization and Orbitrap as the mass analyser. The developed analytical method showed good repeatability (RSDr 11.1%) and 3.55 and 11.8 μg kg-1 as limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), respectively. The choice of multiplexed targeted-SIM mode (t-SIM) for AA and AA-d3 isolated ions provided enhanced detection sensitivity, as demonstrated in this work. Statistical processing of data was performed in order to compare the AA levels with several production parameters, such as time/cooking temperature, placement on the cooking conveyor belt, color, and moisture for different biscuits. The composition of the raw materials was statistically the most correlated factor with the AA content when all samples are considered. The statistical treatment presented herein enables an important prediction of factors influencing AA formation in biscuits contributing to putting in place effective mitigation strategies.

Isolation and molecular characterization of spermatogonia from male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed in utero and postnatally to dibutyl phthalate or acrylamide

The increased incidence of testicular disorders in young men and the possible influence of environmental chemicals, such as dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and acrylamide (AA), requires experimental models for identifying modes of action. Most published reproductive toxicologic studies use RNA samples from the total testis to evaluate testicular gene expression; however, analyses of isolated cell types could provide a more specific tool. Among testicular germ cells, spermatogonia are critical since they represent the onset of spermatogenesis. This study aimed, (1) to establish a technique for spermatogonia isolation; (2) to apply this isolation technique to verify possible gene expression alterations (Pou5f1, Kitlg, Mki-67, Bak1 and Spry4) in prepubertal post-natal day, (PND24) and pubertal (PND45) testes after in utero and postnatal exposure to DBP or AA. The technique was efficient for isolation of a majority of spermatogonia. In utero DBP exposure led to reduced litter body weight at birth, reduced anogenital distance of male pups on PND4, and increased frequency of male nipple retention on PND14 compared to controls. DBP-exposed relative testes weights were reduced only at PND24 compared to control but they did not differ at PND45. DBP-exposed animals showed reduced expression levels of Pou5f1 and Mki67 on PND24, and reduced expression of Pou5f1 and Spry4 on PND45. AA exposure reduced expression of Pou5f1, Mki67, and Spry4 at PND45 although not significantly. Our results suggest that DBP acts by reducing cell proliferation and impairing differentiation in prepubertal and pubertal testes.

The effects of acrylamide and vitamin E on kidneys in pregnancy: an experimental study

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate possible damages to kidney tissues of pregnant rats and their fetuses exposed to acrylamide during pregnancy and possible protective effects of vitamin E against these damages. Material and methods: Rats were randomly assigned to five groups of control, corn oil, vitamin E, acrylamide, vitamin E + acrylamide, six pregnant rats in each. Mother and fetal kidney tissues were examined for malondialdehyde (MDA), reductase glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), urea, creatine, trace elements such as Zn and Cu in the serum and histopathological analyses were conducted. Results: It was determined that acrylamide, administered during pregnancy, statistically significantly increased MDA and TOS levels, maternal serum urea, creatinine, and Zn levels, while it decreased GSH, TAS, SOD, and CAT levels (p ≤ .05) when compared with all other groups in the kidney tissues of pregnant rats and their fetuses and caused tubular degeneration, hemorrhage, narrowing, and closure in Bowman's space, and, in the E vitamin group, it statistically significantly increased GSH, TAS, SOD, CAT, urea, creatinine, and Zn levels when compared with other groups and lowered TOS and MDA levels to those of the control group (p < .05) and there were no differences between the groups histologically. Conclusion: It was observed that acrylamide administered during pregnancy caused oxidative stress in kidney tissues of mother rats and their fetuses, resulting in tissue damage, and vitamin E application, which is considered to be a powerful antioxidant, inhibited oxidative stress.

Characterization of acrylamide-induced oxidative stress and cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish embryos

Acrylamide (AA) is a high production volume chemical in industrial applications and widely found in baked or fried carbohydrate-rich foods. In this study, we unravelled that AA induced developmental toxicity associated with oxidative stress status and disordered lipid distribution in heart region of developing zebrafish. Treatment with AA caused a deficient cardiovascular system with significant heart malformation and dysfunction. We also found that AA could reduce the number of cardiomyocytes through the reduced capacity of cardiomyocyte proliferation rather than cell apoptosis. The cardiac looping and ballooning appeared abnormal though cardiac chamber-specific identity in the differentiated myocardium was maintained well after AA treatment through MF20/S46 immunofluorescence assay. Furthermore, treatment with AA disturbed the differentiation of atrioventricular canal, which was demonstrated by the disordered expressions of the atrioventricular boundary markers bmp4, tbx2b and notch1b and further confirmed by the ectopic expressions of the cardiac valve precursor markers has2, klf2a and nfatc1 through whole-mount in situ hybridization. Thus, our studies provide the evidence of cardiac developmental toxicity of AA in the cardiovascular system, and also raised health concern about the harm of trans-placental exposure to high level of AA for foetuses and the risk of high exposure to AA for the pregnant women.

Dietary acrylamide intake during pregnancy and postnatal growth and obesity: Results from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

BACKGROUND

Prenatal acrylamide exposure has been negatively associated with fetal growth but the association with child growth is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We studied the association between prenatal acrylamide exposure and child postnatal growth up to 8 years in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).

METHODS

In 51,952 mother-child pairs from MoBa, acrylamide intake during pregnancy was estimated by combining maternal food intake with food concentrations of acrylamide. Mothers reported their child's weight and length/height up to 11 times between 6 weeks and 8 years. Weight and height growth trajectories were modelled using Jenss-Bayley's growth model. Logistic regression models were used to study the association with overweight/obese status at 3, 5 and 8 years, as identified using the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs. Linear mixed-effect models were used to explore associations with overall growth.

RESULTS

At 3 years, the adjusted odds ratios (95% Confidence Intervals (CI)) of being overweight/obese were 1.10 (1.02, 1.20), 1.12 (1.04, 1.22) and 1.21 (1.11, 1.31) by increasing prenatal acrylamide exposure quartile. Similar dose-response associations were found at 5 and 8 years. Acrylamide intake during pregnancy was associated with higher weight growth velocity in childhood. Children exposed at the highest level had 22 g (95% CI: 8, 37), 57 g (95% CI: 32, 81), and 194 g (95% CI: 110, 278) higher weight at 0.5, 2, and 8 years, respectively, compared to their low exposed peers.

CONCLUSIONS

Children prenatally exposed to acrylamide in the highest quartile experienced a moderate increase in weight growth velocity during early childhood that resulted in a moderately increased prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to peers in the lowest quartile. Our study is the first to link prenatal acrylamide exposure and postnatal growth.

Exposure to acrylamide induces cardiac developmental toxicity in zebrafish during cardiogenesis

Acrylamide (AA), an environmental pollutant, has been linked to neurotoxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. AA is widely used to synthesize polymers for industrial applications, is widely found in Western-style carbohydrate-rich foods and cigarette smoke, and can also be detected in human umbilical cord blood and breast milk. This is the first study that demonstrated the cardiac developmental toxicity of AA in zebrafish embryos. Post-fertilization exposure to AA caused a clearly deficient cardiovascular system with a shrunken heart and abortive morphogenesis and function. Disordered expression of the cardiac genes, myl7, vmhc, myh6, bmp4, tbx2b and notch1b, as well as reduced number of myocardial cells and endocardial cells, indicated the collapsed development of ventricle and atrium and failed differentiation of atrioventricular canal (AVC). Although cell apoptosis was not affected, the capacity of cardiomyocyte proliferation was significantly reduced by AA exposure after fertilization. Further investigation showed that treatment with AA specifically reduced the expressions of nkx2.5, myl7 and vmhc in the anterior lateral plate mesoderm (ALPM) during the early cardiogenesis. In addition, AA exposure disturbed the restricted expressions of bmp4, tbx2b and notch1b during atrioventricular (AV) valve development and cardiac chambers maturation. Our results showed that AA-induced cardiotoxicity was related to decreased cardiac progenitor genes expression, reduced myocardium growth, abnormal cardiac chambers morphogenesis and disordered AVC differentiation. Our study demonstrates that AA exposure during a time point analogous to the first trimester in humans has a detrimental effect on early heart development in zebrafish. A high ingestion rate of AA-containing products may be an underlying risk factor for cardiogenesis in fetuses.

Effects of Maillard-type caseinate glycation on the preventive action of caseinate digests in acrylamide-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in IEC-6 cells

Dietary acrylamide has attracted widespread concern due to its toxic effects; however, its adverse impact on the intestines is less assessed. Protein glycation of the Maillard-type is widely used for property modification, but its potential effect on preventive efficacy of protein digest against the acrylamide-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction is quite unknown. Caseinate was thus glycated with lactose. Two tryptic digests from the glycated caseinate and untreated caseinate (namely GCN digest and CN digest) were then assessed for their protective effects against acrylamide-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction in the IEC-6 cell model. The results showed that acrylamide at 1.25–10 mmol L⁻¹ dose-dependently had cytotoxic effects on IEC-6 cells, leading to decreased cell viability and increased lactate dehydrogenase release. Acrylamide also brought about barrier dysfunction, including decreased trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value and increased epithelial permeability. However, the two digests at 12.5–100 μg mL⁻¹ could alleviate this dysfunction via enhancing cell viability by 70.2–83.9%, partly restoring TEER values, and decreasing epithelial permeability from 100% to 76.6–94.1%. The two digests at 25 μg mL⁻¹ strengthened the tight junctions via increasing tight junction proteins ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 expression by 11.5–68.6%. However, the results also suggested that the GCN digest always showed lower protective efficacy than the CN digest in the cells. It is concluded that Maillard-type caseinate glycation with lactose endows the resultant tryptic digest with impaired preventive effect against acrylamide-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction, highlighting another adverse effect of the Maillard reaction on food proteins.

Glycated caseinate digest of the Maillard-type has lower protective action than caseinate digest against acrylamide-induced barrier dysfunction in IEC-6 cells.

Stereological Method for Assessing the Effect of Vitamin C Administration on the Reduction of Acrylamide-induced Neurotoxicity

Introduction

Acrylamide (ACR) consumption is increasing all over the world. There are some evidence on the literature about its neurotoxic effect on mature animals, but the effects of ACR on postnatal development have been less studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ACR on development of cortical layer, white matter, and number of Purkinje cells of the cerebellum in rat newborns.

Methods

This study was carried out on 20 female Wistar rats (average weight: 180 g, aged: two months). The rats were divided into four groups. Pregnant rats were orally fed with ACR 10 mg/kg and vitamin C 200 mg/kg. In this study, 6 infants of each group (weighting 32-35 g) were randomly selected at day 21 after birth and placed under deep anesthesia and transcardial perfusion. Their cerebellums were fixed and histopathological changes were evaluated with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining and cresyl violet method. The volume of cerebellar cortical layers and number of Purkinje cells were investigated by Cavalieri's principle and physical dissector methods. The obtained data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA and LSD test using SPSS. P<0.05 considered as statistically significant.

Results

The results showed that newborns of ACR-treated female rats have decreased cerebellar weight (P≤0.05) and lower than average number of Purkinje cells (P≤0.001). ACR also decreased the volume of granular and molecular layer and increased the volume of white matter. While the results showed decreased in white matter volume in vitamin C group (P≤0.001).

Conclusion

ACR induces structural changes in the development of the cerebellar cortical layers in rat newborns, but these changes may be prevented by vitamin C as an antioxidant.

Acrylamide-induced disturbance of the redox balance in the chick embryonic brain

This study was undertaken to determine the redox balance in the developing brain after exposure to acrylamide (ACR), a potent neurotoxin. The studies were performed using an in ovo chick embryo model. The antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPx, CAT, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were used as indicators of the redox balance. Eggs were injected with ACR doses of 40 mg kg^-1 egg mass (2.4 mg egg^-1) on embryonic day 17 (E17). The activity of the antioxidant enzymes and the concentration of GSH were measured at E17, E18, and E19 in the medulla oblongata, cerebrum, cerebellum, and optic lobe. The results indicated a significant decrease in the GSH concentrations in the optic lobe (E19, E20) and cerebrum (E20) of embryos exposed to ACR. The activities of SOD and GPx were significantly increased in the majority of the examined structures after injection of ACR. CAT activity was completely inhibited in the brains of the embryos exposed to ACR compared to that in the brains of the control embryos. Thus, we concluded that ACR exerts a significant influence on the redox balance in the developing brain by impacting the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the levels of GSH.

Dietary acrylamide: What happens during digestion

Acrylamide is a well-known potentially carcinogen compound formed during thermal processing as an intermediate of Maillard reactions. Three objectives were addressed: the impact of gastric digestion on acrylamide content of French Fries, chips, chicken nuggets, onions rings, breakfast cereals, biscuits, crackers, instant coffee and coffee substitute; the acrylamide content evolution during gastrointestinal digestion of French fries and chips; and the effectiveness of blanching and air-frying on acrylamide mitigation after gastrointestinal digestion. A significant increase (p-value <0.05) in acrylamide content was observed for most of the products after gastric digestion (maximum registered for sweet biscuits, from 30±8 to 150±48µg/kg). However, at the end of the intestinal stage, acrylamide values were statistically similar (p-value=0.132) for French fries and lower than the initial values (before digestion) in potato chips (p-value=0.027). Finally, the low acrylamide content found in blanched and air-fried samples, remained still lower than for deep fried samples even after gastrointestinal digestion.

Acrylamide: a common food toxin related to physiological functions and health

Acrylamide (AA) is a highly reactive organic compound capable of polymerization to form polyacrylamide, which is commonly used throughout a variety of industries. Given its toxic effect on humans and animals, the last 20 years have seen an increased interest in research devoted to the AA. One of the main sources of AA is food. AA appears in heated food following the reaction between amino acids and reduced sugars. Large concentrations of AA can be found in popular staples such as coffee, bread or potato products. An average daily consumption of AA is between 0.3-2.0 microg/kg b.w. Inhalation of acrylamide is related with occupational exposure. AA delivered with food is metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450. AA biotransformation and elimination result in formation of toxic glycidamide (GA). Both, AA and GA can be involved in the coupling reaction with the reduced glutathione (GSH) forming glutathione conjugates which are excreted with urine. Biotransformation of AA leads to the disturbance in the redox balance. Numerous research proved that AA and GA have significant influence on physiological functions including signal propagation in peripheral nerves, enzymatic and hormonal regulation, functions of muscles, reproduction etc. In addition AA and GA show neurotoxic, genotoxic and cancerogenic properties. In 1994, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified acrylamide as a potentially carcinogenic substance to human.

Aluminium and Acrylamide Disrupt Cerebellum Redox States, Cholinergic Function and Membrane-Bound ATPase in Adult Rats and Their Offspring

Accumulation of aluminium and acrylamide in food is a major source of human exposure. Their adverse effects are well documented, but there is no information about the health problems arising from their combined exposure. The aim of the present study was to examine the possible neurotoxic effects after co-exposure of pregnant and lactating rats to aluminium and acrylamide in order to evaluate redox state, cholinergic function and membrane-bound ATPases in the cerebellum of adult rats and their progeny. Pregnant female rats have received aluminium (50 mg/kg body weight) via drinking water and acrylamide (20 mg/kg body weight) by gavage, either individually or in combination from the 14th day of pregnancy until day 14 after delivery. Exposure to these toxicants provoked an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) levels and a decrease in SOD, CAT, GPx, Na⁺K⁺-ATPase, Mg²⁺-ATPase and AChE activities in the cerebellum of mothers and their suckling pups. A reduction in GSH, NPSH and vitamin C levels was also observed. These changes were confirmed by histological results. Interestingly, co-exposure to these toxicants exhibited synergism based on physical and biochemical variables in the cerebellum of mothers and their progeny.

Lack of adverse health effects following 30-weeks of dietary exposure to acrylamide at low doses in male F344 rats

Understanding the health hazards following exposure to food-borne acrylamide, especially at low levels typified by human diets, is an ongoing food safety issue. We recently published results from a study that aimed to understand the effects of acrylamide short-term exposure at doses known to cause tumors in rodents, demonstrating that a number of key toxicological end points were altered by acrylamide exposure. Additionally, we reported that at much lower doses for 30 weeks of exposure, dietary acrylamide was 'not a complete carcinogen' to the colon in an organ-specific rodent carcinogenesis study but acted as a co-carcinogen along with azoxymethane (AOM, a colon-specific carcinogen). Here, we present toxicological data from a sub-set of this long-term exposure study from animals that received saline (instead of AOM). Briefly, male F344 rats were randomized to receive acrylamide at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg diet (∼0.02, 0.04, and 0.09 mg/kg BW/day, respectively) or no acrylamide (control), for 30 weeks; all rats were then euthanized and their tissues harvested and processed for toxicological evaluation. We report that at the doses tested, acrylamide did not cause any changes in general well-being, body weight or food intake. Similarly, acrylamide did not cause any biologically relevant change in parameters associated with immunophenotyping, serum biochemistry or hematology. Histopathology assessment of tissues showed no changes except in the testis, where non-specific mild lesions were observed in all the groups, inclusive of the controls. No neuropathological effects of acrylamide were observed in the brain and nerve tissues. Together, these results suggest that acrylamide administered to rats through the diet at low doses for 30 weeks did not cause any toxicologically relevant changes. Given that the doses of acrylamide in the current study are low and are comparable to human dietary exposure, this null-effect study provides data that contribute to the body of scientific evidence relevant to understanding the health effects of acrylamide.