Exposure to Dietary Glycidyl and 3-MCPD Fatty Acid Esters and Associated Burden of Cancer in Selected Asian and European Countries: A Review and Data Synthesis

Abstract

This study evaluated the health implications and oncological impact of consuming glycidyl esters (GE) and 3-monochloro-1,2-propanediol esters (3-MCPDE) in selected Asian and European populations. Data on dietary GE and 3-MCPDE were compiled from 10 studies conducted in China, Taiwan, Poland, and Spain, identified through a systematic search in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases from 2012 to 2022. Studies on food supplements and analytical methods were excluded from the analysis. Health metrics for these nations, spanning 2015 to 2019, were sourced from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, among others. A Monte Carlo Simulation was employed for data analysis. The results showed that “grains and grain products” was the most consumed food category (260.45-395.35 g/day), whereas “food for infants and children” was the least consumed (0.01-0.09 g/day). Additionally, “fats from animal or plant origin” had the highest contamination levels. While 3-MCPDE exposures remained within safe limits, median GE exposure correlated with an incidence of colon cancer ranging from 3.66 × 10−8 to 0.744%, lung cancer from 0.00256 to 0.287%, and breast cancer from 0.0262 to 2.42% within the study areas. This translated to a total cancer burden of 6.69 to 1020 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 100 000 individuals. The population in China recorded the highest DALY rate (1,020), followed by Spain (30.2), Poland (19.7), and Taiwan (6.69). Projections suggest an uptick in GE-related cancer cases and associated burdens in the coming decades attributed to demographic shifts, ageing populations, and dietary changes. The study underscores the urgency of mitigating GE and 3-MCPDE food contamination, bolstering public health awareness, and establishing safety guidelines.