LC-MS/MS Validation and Quantification of Cyanotoxins in Algal Food Supplements from the Belgium Market and Their Molecular Origins

Wannes Hugo R Van Hassel; Anne-Catherine Ahn; Bart Huybrechts; Julien Masquelier; Annick Wilmotte; Mirjana Andjelkovic

doi:10.3390/toxins14080513

LC-MS/MS Validation and Quantification of Cyanotoxins in Algal Food Supplements from the Belgium Market and Their Molecular Origins

Toxins (Basel). 2022 Jul 27;14(8):513. doi: 10.3390/toxins14080513.

Authors

Wannes Hugo R Van Hassel^{1

2}, Anne-Catherine Ahn³, Bart Huybrechts¹, Julien Masquelier¹, Annick Wilmotte^{2

3}, Mirjana Andjelkovic⁴

Affiliations

¹ Unit Toxins, Organic Contaminants and Additives, Sciensano, Rue Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
² InBios-Centre for Protein Engineering, Departement of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Allée du six Août 11, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
³ BCCM/ULC Collection, University of Liège, Allée du six Août 11, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
⁴ Risk and -Health Impact Assessment, Sciensano, Rue Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.

Abstract

Food supplements are gaining popularity worldwide. However, harmful natural compounds can contaminate these products. In the case of algae-based products, the presence of toxin-producing cyanobacteria may cause health risks. However, data about the prevalence of algal food supplements on the Belgian market and possible contaminations with cyanotoxins are scarce. Therefore, we optimized and validated a method based on Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry to quantify eight microcystin congeners and nodularin in algal food supplements. Our analytical method was successfully validated and applied on 35 food supplement samples. Nine out of these samples contained microcystin congeners, of which three exceeded 1 µg g^-1, a previously proposed guideline value. Additionally, the mcyE gene was amplified and sequenced in ten products to identify the taxon responsible for the toxin production. For seven out of these ten samples, the mcyE gene could be amplified and associated to Microcystis sp. EFSA and posology consumption data for algal-based food supplements were both combined with our toxin prevalence data to establish different toxin exposure scenarios to assess health risks and propose new guideline values.

Keywords: BGAS; Microcystis; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; food safety; microcystin; sequencing; ultra-high performance liquid chromatography.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Belgium
Chromatography, Liquid
Cyanobacteria Toxins
Dietary Supplements / analysis
Microcystins* / analysis
Tandem Mass Spectrometry* / methods

Substances

Cyanobacteria Toxins
Microcystins

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV-AFSCA-FASFC) in the framework of the work of WVH towards his PhD. FAVV-AFSCA-FASFC cannot be held liable for the use of the data nor the conclusions that could be drawn from their treatment. A.W. is Senior Research Associate of the FRS-FNRS. The BCCM/ULC collection is supported by the Belgian Science Policy Office (C5/00/BCCM).