Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
4218055 
Journal Article 
Urinary Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Metabolites in Maté Drinkers in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 
Lopes, AB; Metzdorf, M; Metzdorf, L; Ramalho, MP; Kavalco, C; Etemadi, A; Pritchett, NR; Murphy, G; Calafat, AM; Abnet, CC; Dawsey, SM; Fagundes, RB 
2017 
Yes 
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention
ISSN: 1055-9965
EISSN: 1538-7755 
AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH 
PHILADELPHIA 
27 
3 
331-337 
English 
29263183 
WOS:000427590600012 
BACKGROUND: Consumption of maté, an infusion of the herb Ilex paraguariensis (yerba maté), is associated with increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the carcinogenic mechanism is unclear. Commercial brands of yerba maté contain high levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are acquired during the traditional drying process. The purpose of this study was to characterize exposure to PAHs in maté drinkers over a wide range of maté consumption.

METHODS: We recruited 244 adults who answered a questionnaire and collected a fasting spot urine specimen. We quantified urinary concentrations of seven PAH metabolites, and assessed associations between self-reported recent maté consumption and urinary PAH metabolites by multivariate regression.

RESULTS: Recent maté consumption showed a significant dose-response association with 6 of 7 PAH metabolites in unadjusted models (p-for-trend <0.05). After adjustment for creatinine and potential confounders, concentrations of 2-naphthol, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, and the sum of 2- and 3-hydroxyphenanthrene remained significantly associated with recent maté intake. The sum of the urinary concentrations of the phenanthrene metabolites was similar or higher among maté drinkers who did not smoke than among smokers who did not drink maté.

CONCLUSIONS: Urinary concentrations of PAH metabolites were significantly associated with self-reported amount of recent maté intake, and drinking maté increased urinary concentrations of some PAH metabolites as much as smoking cigarettes.

IMPACT: Drinking maté is a source of exposure to potentially carcinogenic PAHs, consistent with the hypothesis that the PAH content of maté may contribute to the increased risk of ESCC in maté drinkers.