Benefit-risk assessment of metal bioavailability in edible fungi by biomimetic whole digestive tracts with digestion, metabolism, and absorption functions

As worldwide edible fungi, Lentinula edodes and Agaricus bisporus accumulate both essential and harmful metals. Metal bioavailability is important for metal benefit-risk assessment. A full functional model of digestive tracts (including digestion, metabolism, and absorption) is established. Under the digestive tract functions, the bioaccessible and bioavailable metals are released from edible fungi and absorbed by intestinal tract, respectively. Based on bioavailable metal contents in the intestine, safe dosage and maximum consumption are 43.52 g/d and 248.7 g/d for Agaricus bisporu, 20.59/328.9 g/d (for males/ female) and 132.9 g/d for Lentinus edodes; V, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Cr, Cd and Pb in Agaricus bisporus and Lentinula edodes are absorbed mainly in the large intestine; Fe is mainly absorbed in small intestine; edible fungi species-specificity in metal bioavailability is observed for As and Mn, which are mainly absorbed by small and large intestine for Agaricus bisporus and Lentinus edodes, respectively; and then metal toxicity on small and large intestine is disclosed. Metal benefit-risk is assessed by the content of monolayer liposome-extracted metal in the chyme from small and large intestine, which is controlled by the gastrointestinal functions, metal and edible fungi species. [Display omitted] •In vitro measurement of metal bioavailability is key for benefit-risk assessment.•Biomimetic whole digestive tracts with full functions are established.•Safe dosage and maximum consumption of edible fungi are offered.•Metal toxicity on small and large intestine is disclosed.