Toxicology and risk assessment of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural in food

Abstract

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) as a product of the Maillard reaction is found in many foods. Estimated intakes range between 4 and 30 mg per person and day, while an intake of up to 350 mg can result from, e.g., beverages made from dried plums. In vitro genotoxicity was positive when the metabolic preconditions for the formation of the reactive metabolite 5-sulphoxymethylfurfural were met. However, so far in vivo genotoxicity was negative. Results obtained in short-term model studies for 5-HMF on the induction of neoplastic changes in the intestinal tract were negative or cannot be reliably interpreted as "carcinogenic". In the only long-term carcinogenicity study in rats and mice no tumours or their precursory stages were induced by 5-HMF aside from liver adenomas in female mice, the relevance of which must be viewed as doubtful. Hence, no relevance for humans concerning carcinogenic and genotoxic effects can be derived. The remaining toxic potential is rather low. Various animal experiments reveal that no adverse effect levels are in the range of 80-100 mg/kg body weight and day. Safety margins are generally sufficient. However, 5-HMF exposure resulting from caramel colours used as food additives should be further evaluated.

The Margin of Exposure of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in Alcoholic Beverages

“…For example, the calculated MOE value was 465 for HMF in the worst-case scenario (99th percentile), which is of same order of magnitude as the MOE value for average exposure to acetaldehyde from alcoholic beverages [11,37]. A previous risk assessment of HMF in food in general also showed a comparably low risk of HMF for the average population [38]. It was estimated that even in a worst case where up to 4.3 mg/kg bw of HMF is consumed every day with beverages made from dried plums, the margin of safety would still be of around 20 [38].…”

“…A previous risk assessment of HMF in food in general also showed a comparably low risk of HMF for the average population [38]. It was estimated that even in a worst case where up to 4.3 mg/kg bw of HMF is consumed every day with beverages made from dried plums, the margin of safety would still be of around 20 [38]. …”

Cysteine alone or in combination with glycine simultaneously reduced the contents of acrylamide and hydroxymethylfurfural

“…HMF causes death in honey bees (Zirbes et al, 2013), induces genotoxic and mutagenic effects in bacterial and human cells (Svendsen et al, 2012), and promotes colon cancer in rats (Svendsen et al, 2012), although conflicting views exist with regard to the effect of this substance on human health (Abraham et al, 2011;Severin, Dumont, Jondeau-Cabaton, Graillot, & Chagnon, 2010).…”

Toxicity studies with 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and its metabolite 5-sulphooxymethylfurfural in wild-type mice and transgenic mice expressing human sulphotransferases 1A1 and 1A2

“…Older estimates of the mean daily intake of HMF from food are in the range of 30-150 mg per person, equivalent to 0.4-2.1 mg/kg body mass for a person of 70 kg (Ulbricht et al 1984;Janzowski et al 2000). Estimates from newer studies from Spain (Rufian-Henares and de la Cueva 2008), Norway (Husøy et al 2008) and Germany (Abraham et al 2011) are somewhat lower. A margin of exposure cannot be calculated, as appropriate carcinogenicity data are only available for two dosage levels.…”