Concentrations of selected metals (NA, K, CA, MG, FE, CU, ZN, AL, NI, PB, CD) in coffee

Coffee is, after water, amongst the most popular beverages consumed in the world (1). Numerous studies suggest that moderate coffee consumption has beneficial health impacts on humans. Coffee infusions show protective potential against oxidative stress through the presence of antioxidants and active components (2, 3, 4). They increase the antioxidant plasma capacity and might increase glutathione levels and thus reduce the levels of DNA damage (5, 6). Furthermore, some studies imply that habitual coffee consumption could protect against Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease (7, 8). Coffee consumption may also be linked to improvements in fecal microbiota and colonic fermentation, may reduce the risk of developing liver, colorectal and prostate cancer as well as brain tumors (9, 10, 11). The meta-analysis by Lukic et al. confirmed the protective effect of coffee consumption on the risk of endometrial cancer. Additionally, authors suggest that increased coffee intake might be particularly beneficial for women with obesity (12). On the other hand, increased long-term coffee consumption may cause, among others: increasing plasma homocysteine and LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) level, gastrointestinal disturbances (4, 13, 14). Moreover, repeated doses of coffee throughout the day may be linked to an elevation of cortisol secretion in the afternoon hours (15). What is even more, maternal consumption of coffee during pregnancy may increase the risk of the occurrence acute childhood leukemia (16, 17). It is also suggested that coffee consumption is a risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (18).

The contamination of food may be caused by various compounds found in the environment e.g. high doses of fertilizers or plant protection chemicals. These compounds, taken with food and then absorbed in the digestive tract, may have an influence on body cells and tissues. On the other hand, potential contamination may derive from package and storage, pollution, fungi and molds (19, 20). The amount of compounds taken with coffee infusions depend on their contents in coffee beans, level of consumption and pattern of drinking coffee infusions, which is linked to the geographical region. In Europe, the highest coffee consumption is observed in Finland, 12 kg per capita/year, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) it is 6.2 kg per capita/year (21).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of selected metals: Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Al, Ni, Pb and Cd in coffee and determine the difference in their concentration between green and roasted coffee beans. Additionally, we investigated if the level of studied metals, at the current level of consumption of coffee in B&H, is within the recommended limits safe for health.

Coffee infusions in Bosnia are prepared in a traditional way, which is widespread in the Balkans, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, North Africa, the Caucasus and Bali, known as Turkish coffee. During the first step roasted ground coffee is added to boiling water in the pot and heated until the foam level is rising. Afterwards, the coffee is flooded with a small amount of cold water. At this time the coffee is partially precipitating. Next, the coffee is heated until the foam level rises again. After a few minutes the coffee is ready to drink (19).

The ranges of values of metals’ concentration (μg element/g coffee) in the samples of green coffee beans are presented in Table 1a. In the samples of roasted coffee beans, there were: Na: 13.0–36.3, K: 20300–32933, Ca 750–939, Mg: 1800–2127, Fe: 35.2–49.1, Cu: 6.5–16.5, Zn: 4.96–6.18, Al: 1.74–6.01, Ni: 0.69–1.16, Pb: 0.0115– 0.0215 and Cd: 0.0111–0.0222 μg/g of coffee. The average contents of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Ni and Cd in roasted coffee samples compared to green coffee were higher, while average contents for Al have not changed, and for three metals: Fe, Cu and Pb were lower (see Table 1a and 1b).

The ranges of values of metals’ concentration (μg/100mL) in the coffee infusions were as follows: Na: 25.5–63.9, K: 81467–132333, Ca: 1037–1827, Mg: 4600–8463, Fe: 8.93–24.50, Cu: 1.20–6.86, Zn: 5.53–13.17, Al: 2.03–8.43, Ni: 0.78–1.82, Pb: 0.133–0.558, and Cd: 0.036–0.061 (see Table 2).

All analyzed metals passed from ground coffee beans to coffee infusions. The highest average diffusion showed K and Mg, more than 83 and 70%, respectively. The average level of diffusion from 38 to 27% showed: Na, Pb, Ca, Ni and Zn and Al. While, the lowest: Fe, Cu and Cd, each less than 11% (see Table 3).

The analysis in pairs of the same coffee beans, before and after roasting showed that, in roasted coffee beans (R 1a), concentrations of Na, Ca, Zn and Ni were significantly higher than in green coffee beans (G 1a), while in roasted beans R 2b, concentrations of Na, K, Mg, Zn, Al, Ni and Pb were significantly higher than in green beans G 2b. It should be noted that, in green coffee beans (G 1a), concentrations of Al and Pb were significantly higher than in roasted coffee beans (R 1a) (see Table 4).

Coffee beans from miscellaneous geographical areas are characterized by different organoleptic features and chemical composition (20, 22, 23). The final content of elements in the coffee beans is also influenced by technological processes: drying, burning, roasting and storage (19, 20). Mineral components and toxic elements pass to the beverage during the brewing process. Their final content in infusion is influenced by methods of brewing and occurrence other mineral components that could be present e.g. in water used to prepare beverage (24).

On the one hand metals play an important role in the human body e.g. as components of enzymes. On the other hand, their increased supply may cause adverse health effects, like damage to internal organs, endocrine disruption and poor reproductive capacity and genotoxicity linked to cancers. They may also be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (25, 26, 27, 28). Moreover, it should be noted that lead accumulates in the human body, causing distant effects (29).

The tolerable upper intake level (mg), which exceeds a recommended intake for the examined elements per year (for adults with average body weight 70 kg), is as follows: Na: 730000, K: 2775000-127750000 (probably oral lethal dose for human varies), Ca: 912500, Cu: 1825, Zn: 9125, Al: 3650, Ni: 365, Pb: 91, Cd: 9.125. Very large doses of magnesium, higher than 1825000 mg, are associated with its toxicity, and oral dose of 1533000 mg Fe can be lethal (30, 31, 32, 33, 34).

The exposure on metals from coffee is usually a long-term low-concentration exposure. Coffee is a rich source of elements and compounds. The data on the differences in concentrations of metals in coffee beans is important due to the popularity of this beverage and the occurrence of a safe consumption limit for elements that come from the diet, dietary supplements and the environment and topped up by coffee. In addition, compounds contained in coffee may affect the course of treatment e.g. in bipolar affective disorder, by affecting the blood concentration of lithium (35).

The findings we obtained suggest that roasting of coffee beans may affect the content of some metals, and drying may cause increase in concentration of the elements. In coffee samples before roasting the concentrations of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Ni (for G 1a) and K, Mg, Zn, Ni, Pb (for G 2b) were lower than after the roasting process. However, in coffee sample G 1a: Fe, Cu and Pb, the concentration of metals was lower after roasting. The ranges of estimated intake of investigated metals per capita/year, based on coffee consumption obtained from (21) were: Na: 80.6– 225.1; K: 125860¬–204184.6; Ca: 4650–5821.8; Mg: 11160– 13187.4; Fe: 218.2–304.4; Cu 40.3–102.3; Zn:30.8–38.3; Al: 10.8–37.3; Ni: 4.3–7.2; Pb: 0.07–0.13; Cd: 0.07–1.14 mg/ per capita/year, and none of the metals tested exceeded the level that could pose a health risk. Our previous study of coffee purchased in Bosnia has shown similar values for Ni intake 3.83–5.68, but higher values for Pb 4.76–7.56 mg/ per capita/year (36). Unfortunately, in the previous study, we did not investigate green coffee beans.

Generally, the number of reports concerning content of metals in green coffee beans is limited in comparison to roasted coffee beans reports. Stelmach et al. and Nogaim et al., have analyzed mineral components in green coffee beans from Africa, America, Asia and Yemen, respectively (37, 38). Authors reported similar to ours values for Cu and Fe. However, Nogaim et al. have observed higher values for Pb (0.599–7.989 μg/g) in Yemeni green coffee beans (38). This confirms that coffee beans growing on different geographical areas are characterized by different chemical composition. Unfortunately, in this research the content of elements after roasting was not determined. Taking into account the results obtained in other studies, which showed that the content of Pb after roasting compared to green coffee beans increased, it would be an interesting issue to investigate. Długaszek et al. have assessed the content of selected elements in Colombian coffee beans purchased in Poland. Authors observed similar Al and Ca concentrations, but lower Mg, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu and Cd in comparison to our results for Brazilian coffee beans purchased in Bosnia. The authors observed higher than ours Pb content (0.02−0.06 μg/g), which is linked to higher estimated intake of Pb: 0.122−0.366 mg per capita/ year. Additionally, a lower intake of coffee in Poland than in Bosnia has been observed (2.4 vs. 6.2 kg per capita /year, respectively) (24). Other authors, Grembecka et al. have also investigated the metal content in roasted coffee beans from Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. They received values comparable to ours for: Zn, Cu, Fe and Ni, but Pb and Cd concentrations were below their method detection limits (23).

In 2015, Oliveira et al. have analyzed mineral contents in infusions prepared from roasted coffee beans from: Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia, India, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Cuba, Timor, Mussulo and China. Authors have noted similar values for Na, as in our studies of coffee infusions, but lower values for: Ca, Mg, K and Fe (39). The authors observed that the mineral profiles of the beverages were linked to both, inter- and intracontinental differences. It is interesting that Mn and Ca were found to be the best chemical descriptors for origin of coffee beans. South American origin coffees were on average richer in the analyzed elements, except for Ca, while coffee beans from Central America had lower mineral contents (excluding Mn). Unfortunately, among the above mentioned studies authors rarely investigated these elements, so such comparison is impossible.

Ashu and Chandravanshi studied content of selected metals in coffee infusions in Etiopian coffee beans and noted similar Ca, Fe and Cu concentrations compared to our results, but higher values for Na and Zn, and lower values for K and Mg (20). Pb and Cd concentrations were below their method detection limits, just like in research by Grembecka et al. (23).

Average intakes of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Al, Ni, Pb and Cd (mg/per capita/year), based on the average metal content of roasted coffee purchased in Bosnia (see table 1b) and coffee consumption in B&H were: 142.6, 147665.4, 5387.8, 12350.4, 254.82, 70.68, 33.54, 25.98, 5.46, 0.105, 0.071 respectively. Note that the intake values are the entire population averages, which means that coffee drinkers will tend to ingest more coffee and metals than values shown.

Therefore further investigations are needed, especially on metals that have harmful effects on health, and also those that accumulate in the body, like Pb. Research should focus on countries with high coffee consumption. Again, the fact that even low levels of some metals, e.g. zinc, may interfere with HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) concentrations, Pb is accumulated and the effects of its accumulation can be distant in time should be taken into account (29, 40).

All in all, the level of studied components in coffee purchased in Bosnia is within the recommended limits.