Objective
Carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HAs) are formed at ppb level during cooking of meat and fish. Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between the intake of fried meat and cancer. The carcinogen city of HAs has been shown in mice, rats and non-human primates. The human risk of HA intake is not clarified, but depends on the level of exposure, dietary factors influencing the uptake and biotransformation, and on the capacity of the individual to handle HAs. With a multidisciplinary approach, we will improve our understanding of the health risks. Exposure will be determined by new methods for analysis of HAs in foods and for biomarkers of internal and bioactive dose. Endogenous handling will be studied using cloning techniques; critical human enzymes and polymorphisms/genetic susceptibility in the bioactivation and detoxification of HAs and individual DNA repair capacity will be characterized. Exogenous dietary factors modifying the biological handling will be investigated.
The standardised methods to analyse HAs in heat-treated processed foods in connection with HA data on contents in cooked foods, the data on endogenous factors modifying the health effects of HAs, and data on exogenous (dietary) factors modifying the health effects of HAs, and data on exogenous (dietary) factors modifying the health effects of HAs produced in the project will be useful tools for advancement for the food industry to assure the public about harmless levels of HAs in processed foods, and for health authorities to control the occurrence and permissible amounts of HAs in foods.
Funding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
221 00 Lund
Sweden
Participants (9)
2860 Soeborg
14558 Bergholz-rehbruecke
8010 Graz
1090 Wien
55099 Mainz
0403 Oslo
22527 Hamburg
08028 Barcelona
1010 Wien