Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are widely distributed plant toxins with species dependent hepatotoxic, carcinogenic, genotoxic and pneumotoxic risks. In a recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opinion, only two data sets from one European country were received for honey, while one feed data set was included. No data are available for food or feed samples from the Belgian market. We developed an LC-MS/MS method, which allowed the detection and quantification of 16 PAs in a broad range of matrices in the sub ng g(-1) range. The method was validated in milk, honey and hay and applied to honey, tea (Camellia sinensis), scented tea, herbal tea, milk and feed samples bought on the Belgian market. The results confirmed that tea, scented tea, herbal tea and honey are important food sources of pyrrolizidine alkaloid contamination in Belgium. Furthermore, we detected PAs in 4 of 63 commercial milk samples. A high incidence rate of PAs in lucerne (alfalfa)-based horse feed and in rabbit feed was detected, while bird feed samples were less contaminated. We report for the first time the presence of monocrotaline, intermedine, lycopsamine, heliotrine and echimidine in cat food.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2015.1086821 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Stakeholders' perspective on sustainable cement made with naturally occurring radioactive by-products: A cross-country comparison.
J Environ Manage
January 2025
Research Group Environmental Economics, Centre of Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
The use of industrial by-products as substitutes for raw materials in cement production not only reduces raw material use, thereby contributing to the circular economy, but also offers an avenue for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates the perceptions of industry representatives and end-users across Belgium, Czechia and Slovenia regarding alternative cement made with industrial by-products categorised as naturally occurring radioactive materials. Based on 66 interviews, three main concerns were discerned: health, performance, and economic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProjections of Public Spending on Pharmaceuticals: A Review of Methods.
Pharmacoeconomics
January 2025
Belgian Health Care Knowledge Centre, Brussels, Belgium.
Background: Forecasting future public pharmaceutical expenditure is a challenge for healthcare payers, particularly owing to the unpredictability of new market introductions and their economic impact. No best-practice forecasting methods have been established so far. The literature distinguishes between the top-down approach, based on historical trends, and the bottom-up approach, using a combination of historical and horizon scanning data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDo European regulatory measures accelerate national market access in Belgium? A retrospective analysis of medicines centrally authorised between 2015 and 2020.
BMJ Open
January 2025
Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Background: At the European level, several regulatory measures (ie, priority medicines (PRIME) scheme, accelerated assessment, conditional marketing authorisation and authorisation under exceptional circumstances) are in place with the aim to expedite the marketing authorisation process for medicines targeting unmet medical needs (UMNs). However, the potential impact of these measures on subsequent decisions regarding market access at the national level, and ultimately if medicines making use of these supporting measures reach the patient earlier, remains unclear.
Objectives: This study seeks to (1) assess the impact of such European regulatory measures on the number of successful applications and time to reimbursement of this group of medicines in the national context of Belgium and (2) evaluate the association between the application of European regulatory measures and Belgian measures (ie, early access pathways and managed entry agreements).
Characterisation of new sources of acrylamide in food marketed in Belgium.
Food Addit Contam Part B Surveill
January 2025
Chemical & Physical Health Risks Department, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.
This study provides occurrence data for acrylamide in various foodstuffs, including those covered by Recommendation (EU) 2019/1888, from 210 samples purchased on the Belgian market. Detection frequencies exceeded 84% in potato-based products other than fries, vegetable crisps, black olives, cocoa powders, coffee substitutes and cereals and snacks. Large variations in acrylamide levels were found in cereals and snacks, with no correlation between cereal type or processing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAugmenting clinical trials in asthma through digital technology, decentralised designs, and person-centric endpoints: opportunities and challenges.
Lancet Respir Med
December 2024
School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Article Synopsis
- * These technologies pave the way for decentralized clinical trials, allowing for a more inclusive study population, reduced costs, and faster access to new treatments.
- * The discussion includes the use of digital endpoints, different trial designs, a specific example of a fully decentralized asthma trial, and examines the pros and cons of these methods from various perspectives (clinicians, patients, and regulators).
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!