Scientific Study

Walnuts (Juglans nigra) are considered to be a functional food. In the present study, twenty one macro-, micro-, and trace elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, and Zn) were selected to be determined in walnuts and walnut oils. The beneficial content of essential elements could be shown by the obtained results, the macro-elements Ca, K, Mg, and Na being present in nuts with 1062 mg/kg, 2771 mg/kg, 1426 mg/kg, and 42.3 mg/kg, respectively. Regarding micro- and trace elements, the following order (decreasing content) was found: Mn > Fe > Zn > B, Mo > Cu > Ni > Co > Al > Sr > Ba > Li > Pb > Se > Cr > As > Cd. Furthermore, the potentially toxic trace elements (As, Cd, Pb) determined were below the maximum allowed values in most of the investigated walnut samples. A comparison of oils and nuts revealed that the former contain lower concentrations of all elements analyzed except for Fe and Zn. This suggested the origin from contamination during oil processing. Fe influences the oil oxidation rate, thus its entry during production should be avoided.