What does science really say about aluminium in matcha tea?
Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. Very reactive element, it is never found as a free metal in nature. It is found combined with other elements, most often with oxygen (O), silicon (Si) and fluorine (F). These chemical compounds are commonly found in soil, minerals, rocks, and clays.
As a metal, it is obtained from minerals containing aluminum, mainly bauxite. Aluminum metal is lightweight and silvery white in appearance.
Found naturally in soil, water and air, it is noted that high levels in the environment can be caused by the mining and processing of aluminum ores or the production of metallic aluminum, alloys and compounds.
Thus, small amounts of aluminum are released into the environment from coal-fired power plants and incinerators, and the effects on all nature and humans are not without consequence.
In the diet, unprocessed foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, plants (tea, etc.) and meat generally contain very little or moderately aluminum. Globally, most traces of aluminum in food, water, and medicine are passed out of the body quickly in the feces (feces), and much of what enters the bloodstream will quickly leave the body through the body. urination reflex (in urine).
However, in addition to being used for the manufacture of certain food packaging and kitchen items (pots, pans, etc.), aluminum compounds can be added voluntarily or not, in greater or lesser quantities, during the process. food processing - such as in flours, yeasts, colors, anti-caking agents, or in herbal drinks such as tea and or coffee.
What are the health effects of aluminum?
According to'Handles, « in humans, the main routes of chronic exposure to aluminum are oral (food, water, oral medications), skin (cosmetics and antiperspirants) and respiratory (inhalation of dust). With regard to the oral route, the general population is mainly exposed to aluminum through food, intakes by water contributing to less than 5% of total intakes. »
In this way, a very small amount of aluminum that we breathe enters the body through the lungs. A very small amount of aluminum in food or water enters the body through the digestive tract. A very small amount of aluminum through drugs with a high aluminum content, such as antacids (products based on aluminum and magnesium salts) will be absorbed; and a very small amount can penetrate through the skin when in contact with aluminum.
According to a synthesis from the Association Santé Environnement France (ASEF), " the toxicity of aluminum depends on the amount ingested but also on the chemical form in which it is absorbed. The different forms of aluminum depend on the acidity of the environment. However, aluminum is more harmful in its soluble form, that is, when the environment is acidic. More specifically, if we add lemon juice to the water, the absorption of aluminum will increase considerably, as well as its toxicity. ».
Thus, aluminum is one of the main heavy metals that we ingest, such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, or mercury. The health consequences of the accumulation of heavy metals such as aluminum in the body raise many questions. As current research shows, the harms of high aluminum levels are linked in particular to the onset of certain neurodegenerative diseases.
Indeed, a study, published in February 2020 in the scientific journal Journal of Alzheimer's Disease reaffirms and confirms the arguably unique association between high aluminum content in the brain and amyloid-β, and " allows us to postulate that the genetic predispositions defining Alzheimer's disease underlie this relationship ". It should be noted in this regard that it is known that tea polyphenols (EGCG, etc.) can induce the expression of various antioxidant enzymes and hinder oxidative damage to DNA.
More and more scientific evidence suggest that green tea may also be used as a potential agent to help treat neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. The benefits are believed in part to be due to theEGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), a catechin (family of flavonoids) abundant in tea, and especially in green tea and matcha green tea powder.
Food and aluminum
Small amounts of aluminum are present in almost all foods to varying degrees. In fact, aluminum is naturally present in most foods, including fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, grains and dairy products.
Certain foods, such as tea leaves or Camellia sinensis (scientific name for shrubs in the Teaaceae family), mushrooms, spinach, and radishes, are also more likely to absorb and accumulate aluminum than they are. 'other foods, as one report officialEuropean Food Safety Authority published in 2008.
Additionally, some of the aluminum we consume comes from processed food additives, such as preservatives, dyes, anti-caking agents and thickeners.
Note that commercially produced foods containing food additives may contain more aluminum than foods cooked at home. Limiting or completely eliminating ultra-processed foods in a balanced diet is therefore a way to reduce exposure to heavy metals - and also to decrease the risk of cancer as revealed in a press release published in 2018 by theINSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research).
The actual amount of aluminum present in the food we eat largely depends on 4 factors:
- the'absorption : the ease with which a food absorbs and retains aluminum;
- the ground : the aluminum content of the soil in which the food was grown;
- the'packaging : if the food has been packaged and stored in aluminum packaging;
- the additives : if the food has had certain additives added during processing.
Regardless, the aluminum content of foods and most drugs is not considered to be a problem (apart from aluminum salts), as only a tiny amount of aluminum that we ingest is actually absorbed. . The rest is thrown away in the faeces. In addition, in healthy people, absorbed aluminum is then excreted in the urine.
In general, oral exposure to aluminum is generally not harmful. Although over-the-counter oral products containing aluminum are considered safe in healthy people at recommended doses, some unwanted effects have been seen after long-term use in some people.
Presence of aluminum in green tea, matcha green tea, black tea, and white tea?
Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the few plants to accumulate aluminum (Al), making tea one of the major sources of dietary aluminum.
Thus, for several years, scientific studies have reviewed research on the concentrations, speciation and bioavailability of aluminum in tea.
With very rare exceptions, the total aluminum concentration in tea infusions has been found to be between 1 and 6 mg. Probably over 90% of this aluminum is bound to organic matter, but the nature of the organic species is unclear.
The relative amount of the different organic aluminum species in tea infusions is unclear, and even the identity of any one has not been proven with certainty. A possible exception is the aluminum trioxalate, which can be an important species.
It seems fairly well established that drinking tea causes measurable but moderate increases in urinary aluminum excretion. However, the bioavailability of the aluminum in tea does not appear to be much greater than that of other food sources.
Even so, one cannot dismiss the fact that tea infusions (green tea, black tea, white tea and matcha) may contain particularly "bioavailable" and neurotoxic compounds such as aluminum maltolate, but this is currently speculative.
Research also shows that the total metal content of tea leaves differs depending on the type of tea (green or black) and is likely influenced by many factors, for example the physical and chemical properties of the soil.
Increasing the extraction time showed no effect on aluminum speciation or the addition of sugar. After adding lemon juice, the speciation changed in a sample of black tea and green tea. The results suggest that lemon juice as an additive can significantly influence aluminum speciation in tea infusions.
In study published in 2008 in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology, researchers have tried to estimate the oral bioavailability of aluminum from a tea infusion. The bioavailability of tea was on average 0.37%, which is not significantly different from water (0.3%), or basic sodium aluminum phosphate (SALP) in cheese (0 , 1 to 0.3%), but higher than that of cookies (0.1%).
Finally, dietary exposure to trace elements is assessed regularly, as well as individual consumption data to estimate dietary exposure for adults and children.
Besides, a report published in 2012 in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology shows that in France the exposure is higher for cadmium, aluminum, antimony, nickel, cobalt and lower for lead, mercury and arsenic.
For aluminum, methylmercury, cadmium, lead and inorganic arsenic, the risk cannot be excluded for certain groups of consumers. In order to minimize nutritional and chemical risks, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) reiterates its recommendation for a diversified diet (food products and origins).
« THE'EFSA (Food Safety Authority of Ireland) also adopted a Provisional Tolerable Weekly Dose (PTWI) of 1 mg / kg bw / week (reduction by 7 from the previous PTWI) in 2008. The JECFA (Joint FAO / WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives), in 2011, revised upwards the value previously established in 2006, setting the PTWI at 2 mg / kg bw / week. This PTWI applies to all aluminum compounds found in foods. »
About a controversial study on matcha
In July 2019, the publication of a study on the level of aluminum present in matcha raised many questions and requests from the Kumiko Matcha community, and from the network of aficionados of this Japanese green tea powder. . As usual, Kumiko Matcha is keen to be as transparent as possible in the eyes of all matcha green tea enthusiasts, and to shed the maximum light on the news concerning this delicious drink.
Since the beginning of the adventure Kumiko Matcha, Valentin, its founder and thinker, never ceases to bring to light the diversity of quality matcha productions, which are available from a growing number of Japanese farmer-artisans.
The solid and sincere relationship that has been established over the years with these organic and natural tea farmers is a unique and richly human relationship. This is what it is possible to feel through their local products, to discover in photos and video, and of course at home and with friends.
This close and professional relationship makes it possible to provide as much information as possible to date on the development process. Whether on the history, origin and composition of each grand cru of matcha available at Kumiko Matcha. It is also the same philosopher who shelters and supports all the utensils and artistic crafts (pottery, bamboo whisk, etc.) offered by Kumiko Matcha.
Indeed, in addition to transmitting the passion for the world of Japanese matcha, coming from atypical and rare terroirs, Kumiko Matcha implements everything that is necessary and regulatory so that your organic matcha is unique and respects the promises kept.
In addition to the unbounded compliance with regulations related to the production of organic tea by our partner farmer-artisans, Kumiko Matcha controls and has regularly tested by independent laboratories the quality of all the matcha available in the Collection. This makes it possible in particular to know precisely the different chemical compounds of each matcha, and to taste them in full consciousness, without any other risk than to have fun.
Coming back to this study German, this is a scientific report on a small-scale study, published in July 2019 by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR).
As matcha has become a very popular food and cosmetic product, it has many health claims, sometimes without enough evidence to draw any hasty conclusions. It is therefore normal that this fashionable green tea powder is the subject of regular studies to confirm or deny these claims. This assessment is therefore in the trend, since it tries to meet the requirements of the standards in force, particularly in the food sector (or superfoods) and the expectations of consumers.
The purpose of the BfR was to analyze samples of matcha selected by them. However, these matcha samples do not represent the intrinsic quality of all matcha available on the market today.
Although this assessment is a justified step, it only represents the photo of a instant t, on a very small number of matcha samples. Indeed, only 3 samples of matcha (original and unspecified brand) do not represent reality, and even less that of the quality of the matcha offered at Kumiko Matcha.
The BfR has looked at the health risk for consumers who regularly consume matcha tea. The objective was to define the levels of aluminum present in matcha to assess the health risks associated with exposure via matcha. The toxicological evaluation was carried out on 3 samples of matcha tea whose results show high levels of aluminum.
The three samples of matcha tea tested by the Institute found that the aluminum levels were 1743, 1775 and 2350 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg), respectively, far exceeding the daily recommendation of the European Safety Authority (EFSA). of food) of 1 mg per kg of body weight.
By comparing the analysis of the study and the last analysis carried out by the laboratory GBA Gesellschaft für Bioanalytik mbH (Hamburg) in March 2020 on matcha Kumiko Matcha (organic premium, organic ultra-premium, organic hyperpremium), we can clearly see that the Kumiko Matcha are up to three times lower than those in the study.
|
Analysis results Matcha from the BfR study |
Analysis results Matcha from Kumiko Matcha |
||
| Sample 1 |
1743 mg / kg i.e. 1.743 mg / g |
Premium organic matcha |
620 mg / kg that is 0.62 mg / g |
| Sample 2 |
1775 mg / kg i.e. 1.775 mg / g |
Ultra-premium organic matcha |
499 mg / kg i.e. 0.499 mg / g |
| Sample 3 |
2350 mg / kg i.e. 2,350 mg / g |
Organic hyperpremium matcha |
544 mg / kg i.e. 0.544 mg / g |
* mg / kg: milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg); *mg / g: milligrams (mg) per gram (g)
A report that raised many questions
This study raised many questions and also brought to light the difficulty of deciphering the results of a study for a majority of people. In particular, many people have made an amalgamation between the aluminum content per kilogram and per gram. We understand why the statistical processing of data is one of the most sensitive points of modern science.
Without denouncing the methodology, what is the validity of this scientific study? Where did the samples come from? Was it organic matcha? How was it stored and handled? How to denounce the presence of a high level of aluminum in a product by analyzing only 3 samples from hundreds of existing products?
So many questions sometimes unanswered, which do not allow the results of this report to be taken literally to generalize.
The assessment may be based on measured results which showed aluminum levels, but the report here does not provide sufficient data to consider that all matcha is at this same level.
Generally, before sounding an alarm bell, it should be noted that scientists are careful not to make media noise, without having first carried out large-scale studies, and objective meta-analyzes, in order to guarantee as much as possible the veracity of the report. 'a conclusion.
Remember that science is not a coldly neutral process. Science is above all a human activity, of men and women, with their strength but also their weaknesses.
In fact, there is currently no separate data on the consumption of matcha tea or tea powder for a type of population that would suggest that all matcha teas contain high levels of aluminum.
Thus, this report is only an estimate and guess about the long-term intake of aluminum through matcha tea. It does not reflect the reality of the matcha available from the majority of respectful artisan entrepreneurs such as Kumiko Matcha.
Thus, a closer examination of the evidence of causality and clinical relevance is the only possible route to obtain better data.
Kumiko Matcha regularly monitors the amounts of heavy metals in all of its products and is always within the low limits of applicable food safety laws.
How can you guarantee the quality of the matcha tea you consume?
Analysis of the various results of scientific studies on a multitude of infusions such as tea (matcha, green tea, black tea, white tea) shows that the localization factor influences the content of heavy metals.
The geographical origin (terroir) of cultivar of each tea that is consumed is a crucial point in the aluminum content, since soils are different in different countries and regions.
To this major factor, it is important to stress that the teas from organic farming can significantly reduce the chances of drinking tea with a high level of aluminum.
Therefore, when a person wishes to consume quality tea, it may be worthwhile to inquire about the aluminum content - either by reading the detailed information available or by asking the tea manufacturers or suppliers.
Thus, with the aim of highlighting the quality work of Japanese artisan farmers who specifically collaborate with Kumiko Matcha, and to be as close as possible to everyone's expectations regarding the health effects of matcha green tea, Kumiko Matcha offers a quantity of substantiated, precise information delivered by independent and competent organizations and laboratories.
In this way, each matcha (premium organic, ultra-premium organic, hyperpremium organic) benefits from a detailed and clear description, and a certificate of analysis to allow everyone to buy organic matcha from Japan with confidence.
As a reminder, the latest analysis results obtained from a German laboratory, the GBA (Gesellschaft für Bioanalytik mbH), reveal the precise contents of three matcha green teas available at Kumiko Matcha. The results of the analysis show that they are within the allowable doses that the body can eliminate naturally.
Aluminum content of Kumiko Matcha matcha green teas:
- Tea organic premium matcha : 620 mg / kg, i.e. 0.62 mg / g (see the pdf of the analysis)
- Tea ultra-premium organic matcha : 499 mg / kg, i.e. 0.499 mg / g (see the pdf of the analysis)
- Tea organic hyperpremium matcha : 544 mg / kg, i.e. 0.544 mg / g (see the pdf of the analysis)
In addition to the inimitable flavors of quality matcha, the scientifically proven benefits of matcha are numerous: regulate mood, relax the mind, help eliminate heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body, increase physical performance and endurance, etc.
Thereby, Kumiko Matcha - together with its artisan-farmer partners - wishes to offer you as much advice as possible to buy and enjoy a quality organic matcha green tea.
Jimmy Braun /BlogNutritionHealth - December 2020
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Kyushu, Japan
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Kyushu, Japan
Without bitterness
Kyushu, Japan
