Metals in whey protein supplements and daily intake
What it found
In 47 whey protein supplement samples, the metals found most were potassium and calcium.
The authors estimate that high daily intakes could push some metal intakes above recommended levels.
What they found
Metals found
The elements found in highest concentrations were potassium (4689.10 mg/kg) and calcium (3811.27 mg/kg). The samples also contained sodium, magnesium, molybdenum, manganese, copper, iron, zinc, chromium, cobalt, and potentially toxic elements such as aluminium, boron, strontium, vanadium, barium and nickel.
30 g per day
A 30 g daily serving provides about 20% of the reference intake for chromium (18.30% for men and 25.63% for women) and 26.99% for molybdenum. For the potentially toxic elements, the estimated intakes were less than 5% of the established reference values.
High intake and minerals
At 100 g per day, and using the maximum concentrations found, intakes of chromium, zinc, iron, molybdenum and magnesium exceed the daily recommended intakes. For example, women would exceed the recommended intake for zinc, and magnesium intake in women could reach 100% of the recommended amount.
Hazard index over 25 years
The daily intake of 30, 60 and 100 g of whey protein supplements for 25 years does not pose a health risk because the hazard index is less than one in these scenarios. The essential elements contributing most to the hazard index are cobalt, followed by molybdenum and chromium.
Potentially toxic elements
For aluminium, nickel, cobalt, strontium, barium, boron and vanadium, the estimated daily intakes from 100 g of supplements contributed less than 10% of the reference values. The authors say these amounts do not pose a toxic risk from these elements.
What the authors conclude
“The daily intake of 30, 60, and 100 g of whey PS for 25 years does not pose a health risk since the hazard index (HI) is less than one in these consumption scenarios, and the essential elements contributing most to HI are Co, followed by Mo and Cr.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that molybdenum and chromium showed the highest contribution to recommended intakes, and that if other foods are also considered, the maximum recommended amounts could be exceeded, with a potential health risk.
- They recommend that the content of these elements should be warned on the label to help risk communication and consumer education.
- They advise promoting a European framework that regulates maximum levels of these elements in these novel foods to ensure consumer safety.
How it was done
The authors wanted to assess metal exposure and characterise the risk from whey protein supplements in different consumption scenarios, because these products are increasingly popular and can be consumed without supervision by a health professional.
They analysed 47 whey protein supplement samples, purchased mainly in Spain and Italy, for essential and potentially toxic elements. They estimated daily intakes for three consumption scenarios: 30, 60 and 100 grams per day, and calculated hazard quotients and a hazard index for 25 years of daily use.
What it can’t tell you
- This study measured metal levels in supplement samples and estimated intakes. It did not measure health effects in people.
- The risk estimates are based on assumptions about daily intake and duration, not on actual health outcomes.
Who paid
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- University of La Laguna, Spain; Health Inspection and Laboratory Service, Spain; University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
The paper
- Title
- Whey Protein Dietary Supplements: Metal Exposure Assessment and Risk Characterization
- Type
- Study
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Bethencourt-Barbuzano E, González-Weller D, Paz-Montelongo S, et al (2023). Whey Protein Dietary Supplements: Metal Exposure Assessment and Risk Characterization. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu15163543Free full textPubMed 37630733DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error