# Integrating Speciation Analysis and Bioaccessibility to Reassess Cadmium Exposure Risk from Six Mushrooms

## TL;DR

This study shows that while some mushrooms have high cadmium levels, most of it is not easily absorbed by the body, reducing health risks.

## Contribution

The study introduces a new approach combining speciation analysis and bioaccessibility to assess cadmium exposure risks in mushrooms.

## Key findings

- Cadmium in most mushrooms is tightly bound and not easily released during digestion.
- A. blazei has high cadmium content but low bioaccessibility (~6%).
- Polysaccharides in A. blazei may inhibit cadmium absorption through adsorption and complexation.

## Abstract

Accurate assessment of dietary exposure to cadmium in mushrooms is crucial for food safety. The inherent limitation lies in relying solely on total cadmium content, failing to reflect its actual bioaccessibility. This study integrated speciation analysis and bioaccessibility to provide a comprehensive risk evaluation. The results showed that cadmium primarily existed in the residual state across Lentinus edodes, Morchella esculenta, Cordyceps militaris, Lyophyllum decastes, Agaricus blazei, and Stropharia rugosoannulata, indicating that a significant portion of the cadmium is tightly bound within insoluble cellular structures, rendering it relatively inert and low mobility. Among them, A. blazei exhibited the highest total cadmium (3.84 mg/kg) and contained detectable acid-soluble cadmium. However, the in vitro bioaccessibility of A. blazei was low (~6%), and no cadmium was detected in the other five mushrooms after biomimetic digestion, reflecting “high content, low release” characteristics. For A. blazei, digestion significantly increased soluble polysaccharides, suggesting that the substantial release of polysaccharides in the gastrointestinal environment not only contributes to their bioactive functions but may also inhibit the dissolution and absorption of cadmium through mechanisms such as adsorption and complexation. Concludingly, this study underscores the necessity of integrating bioaccessibility data for the accurate safety assessment of cadmium in mushrooms.