ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SOME LOCALLY PREPARED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES CONSUMED WITHIN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Locally prepared alcoholic beverages are consumed by both low and high income earners in preference to the more expensive brewed ones. The concentrations of both macro elements (Na, K, Ca and Mg) and trace elements (Cd, Ni, Mn and Fe) in different types of locally prepared alcoholic beverages (palm wine (PW), burukutu (BK) and ogogoro (OG)) consumed within Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria were analysed with a view to providing information on the dietary intakes of essential metals and exposure of human to toxic metals. The concentrations of the macro elements were analysed using Flame Atomic Emission Spectro photometer (FAES) after nictric acid and perchloric acid digestion (2:1) while the trace elements were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) after nitric acid and hydrochloric acid digestion (2:1). The mean  levels of the macro elements ranged from 3.170 -242.453 mg/L for Na, 17.358 - 4256.680 mg/L for K, 0.422 - 1700.523 mg/L for Ca and 3.118 - 965 mg/L for Mg. The mean concentrations of the trace elements in the samples ranged from 0.422 - 2.362mg/L for Ni, 0.205–4.320 mg/L for Mn, 0.295-0.702mg/L for Cd and 0.826 - 52.953mg/L for Fe. some values obtained were above the standard limit set by WHO/SON while others were within.  Sorghum-based alcoholic beverages (BK) contained  higher concentrations of most elements while local dry gin (OG) had least concentration with most analysed elements below detection limit (BDL). Despite their nutritive value beverages with metal concentration above their permissible limit could be toxic and deleterious to living things so their production and consumption should be monitored and regulated by appropriate regulatory agencies.