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This study investigated the effects of replacement of inorganic trace minerals (ITMs) by organic trace minerals (OTMs) on tissue mineral retention and fecal excretion in “Zhen Ning” yellow feather broiler breeders. Six hundred hens (initial BW: 1.70 ± 0.07 kg) aged 40 weeks were randomly divided into five treatments, with four replicates of 30 broiler breeders each. Experimental treatments were as follows: (1) ITM (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Se providing commercially recommended concentrations), (2) L-ITM (50% of the ITM, except for Se), (3) VL-OTM (37.5% of the ITM, except for Se), (4) L-OTM (equivalent to L-ITM), and (5) OTM (62.5% of the ITM, except for Se). The duration of the study was 10 weeks including 2 weeks for adaptation. Compared with the L-ITM treatment, high-level supplementation of minerals in ITM and OTM increased the concentration of serum Mn and Se, pectoral Fe and pancreas Cu, and Fe ( P  < 0.05). Birds fed with OTM dietary exhibited comparable mineral retention in muscle compared with ITM. Differences were observed between L-ITM and L-OTM in serum Mn and Se, pectoral Fe, Zn, and Se, and heart Se with L-OTM retaining higher mineral concentrations than L-ITM ( P  < 0.05). L-OTM retained identical concentration with ITM treatment, except for the pancreatic Fe. All three organic diets reduced the Zn in excreta compared with the two inorganic diets ( P  < 0.05). This study indicates that replacement of dietary ITMs by OTMs improved mineral deposition in tissues and reduced fecal mineral excretion in broiler breeders under the conditions of this study.

Machine learning (ML) models have been increasingly employed to predict osteoporosis. However, the incorporation of hair minerals into ML models remains unexplored. This study aimed to develop ML models for predicting low bone mass (LBM) using health checkup data and hair mineral analysis. A total of 1206 postmenopausal women and 820 men aged 50 years or older at a health promotion center were included in this study. LBM was defined as a T-score below − 1 at the lumbar, femur neck, or total hip area. The proportion of individuals with LBM was 59.4% (n = 1205). The features used in the models comprised 50 health checkup items and 22 hair minerals. The ML algorithms employed were Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting (GB), and Adaptive Boosting (AdaBoost). The subjects were divided into training and test datasets with an 80:20 ratio. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and an F1 score were evaluated to measure the performances of the models. Through 50 repetitions, the mean (standard deviation) AUROC for LBM was 0.744 (± 0.021) for XGB, the highest among the models, followed by 0.737 (± 0.023) for AdaBoost, and 0.733 (± 0.023) for GB, and 0.732 (± 0.021) for RF. The XGB model had an accuracy of 68.7%, sensitivity of 80.7%, specificity of 51.1%, PPV of 70.9%, NPV of 64.3%, and an F1 score of 0.754. However, these performance metrics did not demonstrate notable differences among the models. The XGB model identified sulfur, sodium, mercury, copper, magnesium, arsenic, and phosphate as crucial hair mineral features. The study findings emphasize the significance of employing ML algorithms for predicting LBM. Integrating health checkup data and hair mineral analysis into these models may provide valuable insights into identifying individuals at risk of LBM.

Milk and dairy products are a major source of minerals, particularly calcium, involved in several metabolic functions in humans. Currently, several dairy products are enriched with calcium to prevent osteoporosis. The development of an inexpensive and fast quantitative analysis for minerals is required to offer dairy farmers an opportunity to improve the added value of the produced milk. The aim of this study was to develop 5 equations to measure Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P contents directly in bovine milk using mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometry. A total of 1,543 milk samples were collected between March 2005 and May 2006 from 478 cows during the Walloon milk recording and analyzed by MIR spectrometry. Using a principal component approach, 62 milk samples were selected by their spectral variability and separated in 2 calibration sets. Five outliers were detected and deleted. The mineral contents of the selected samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Using partial least squares combined with a repeatability file, 5 calibration equations were built to estimate the contents of Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P in milk. To assess the accuracy of the developed equations, a full cross-validation and an external validation were performed. The cross-validation coefficients of determination (R2cv) were 0.80, 0.70, and 0.79 for Ca, Na, and P, respectively (n=57), and 0.23 and 0.50 for K and Mg, respectively (n=31). Only Ca, Na, and P equations showed sufficient R2cv for a potential application. These equations were validated using 30 new milk samples. The validation coefficients of determination were 0.97, 0.14, and 0.88 for Ca, Na, and P, respectively, suggesting the potential to use the Ca and P calibration equations. The last 30 samples were added to the initial milk samples and the calibration equations were rebuilt. The R2cv for Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P were 0.87, 0.36, 0.65, 0.65, and 0.85, respectively, confirming the potential utilization of the Ca and P equations. Even if new samples should be added in the calibration set, the first results of this study showed the feasibility to quantify the calcium and phosphorus directly in bovine milk using MIR spectrometry.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the potential of conventional glass ionomer cement (GIC), Biodentine™, MTA, and Portland cement to induce mineral density changes in carious dentin compared to zinc oxide eugenol control cement (ZOE).Materials and methodsFifty blocks of bovine root dentin were prepared and a biofilm model using ATCC strains of S.mutans, S.sobrinus, and L.casei was used to promote artificial dentin lesions. After demineralization, the blocks were randomly divided into the five cement groups. Half of the surface of each specimen received the tested material and the other half was covered with wax (control). Samples were stored in phosphate buffered saline solution for 30 days and after that were scanned in a micro-CT with standardized parameters. Dentin mineral density changes were calculated using differences in plot profiles of the exposed and control carious dentin. Friedman’s test, followed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used with 5% significance.ResultsMean ΔZ values for the cements were 48.63 ± 19.09 for the control (ZOE), 63.31 ± 32.59 for Biodentine™, 114.63 ± 72.92 for GIC, 109.56 ± 66.28 for MTA, and 106.88 ± 66.02 for Portland cement. All cements showed a statistically significant increase in ΔZ values compared to the control, but Biodentine™ values were statistically significantly lower compared to GIC and the other calcium silicate cements.ConclusionsTested materials present potential to induce mineral density changes in carious bovine dentin. MTA, Portland, and GIC showed higher bioactivity potential than Biodentine™.Clinical relevanceBased on minimally invasive concept, materials with remineralization potential can be used to preserve diseased but still repairable dental tissue.

Hair mineral analysis (HMA) has emerged as a promising non-invasive method for assessing long-term exposure to trace elements and metals, potentially complementing traditional biochemical and clinical markers of cardiovascular risk. This review synthesizes current evidence on the relationships between hair elemental profiles and cardiovascular disease (CVD), with an emphasis on toxic metals (As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Ni, Al) and essential micronutrients (Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, Fe, Cr, Li). The reviewed studies consistently show that patients with CVD exhibit elevated levels of toxic elements and reduced concentrations of protective ones, reflecting oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction as mechanistic links. Methodologically, the review highlights inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with collision/reaction cell technology and microwave digestion as gold-standard analytical approaches, while underscoring the urgent need for harmonized protocols, validated washing procedures, and certified reference materials. The interpretation of HMA requires consideration of temporal dynamics, external contamination, and regional variability. Although current evidence supports the research utility of HMA, its clinical integration remains limited by the absence of reference ranges and prospective validation. HMA may hold future value in environmental risk stratification and primary prevention in exposed populations, but further standardization and large-scale longitudinal studies are necessary to define its diagnostic and prognostic relevance in cardiovascular medicine.

The consumption of water with very low mineral content (W-VLMC; water with total dissolved solids below 50 mg/L), despite limited and inconsistent evidence and the resulting knowledge gaps, has not been associated with health risks for the general population. However, certain population subgroups (those eating very unbalanced diets or avoiding certain foods, engaged in prolonged periods of fasting, and/or doing prolonged or strenuous exercise as well as pregnant or breastfeeding women) should be mindful of maintaining sufficient intake of all essential minerals through their food if regularly using this type of water as their main beverage. The rapid expansion of water filtration systems—often producing W-VLMC—creates a timely and valuable opportunity to advance research on the health implications of W-VLMC intake. As these systems become increasingly common in educational settings and homes, children represent a subgroup experiencing rising exposure to W-VLMC. Additional studies are needed to assess the health effects of such exposure from early childhood. A complementary yet contrasting perspective is that the use of water intended for human consumption—with stringent quality control standards—and natural mineral waters—inherently pure, thus eliminating the need for filtration—with higher mineralization in both types of water, may provide an additional dietary source of essential minerals, especially for all the population subgroups mentioned above.

Drinking natural mineral water often contains minerals and trace elements essential for human beings, such as strontium and silicon. As people’s quality of life improves, so do their requirements for drinking water. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and develop high-quality groundwater that is rich in metasilicate and other minerals. The aim of this study is to reveal the distribution pattern and causes of high-quality metasilicate-rich groundwater in Liaocheng City through scientific methods, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the rational development and protection of mineral water resources. The results shown that Dong'e County was the main concentration area of high-quality metasilicate mineral water in Liaocheng City. The main reason for its high concentration of metasilicic acid was due to water–rock interaction. There was bedrock fissure water in the underlying water supply rock groups in Dong'e County, and the reaction between the metasilicate minerals in the rock groups and water was the main source of metasilicic acid. In addition, the development of fissures in the area provided a good storage and conductivity system for the enrichment of metasilicic acid in groundwater. Based on the analysis of hydrogeological conditions and the mechanism of formation of enriched areas, the enriched areas were divided into developable areas, protected and restricted development areas, and restricted development areas. The results of the study can lay a theoretical foundation for the systematic and scientific development, utilization, and protection of high-quality metasilicate mineral water in Liaocheng City.

Seaweeds are well-known for their exceptional capacity to accumulate essential minerals and trace elements needed for human nutrition, although their levels are commonly very variable depending on their morphological features, environmental conditions, and geographic location. Despite this variability, accumulation of Mg, and especially Fe, seems to be prevalent in Chlorophyta, while Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta accumulate higher concentrations of Mn and I, respectively. Both red and brown seaweeds also tend to accumulate higher concentrations of Na, K, and Zn than green seaweeds. Their valuable mineral content grants them great potential for application in the food industry as new ingredients for the development of numerous functional food products. Indeed, many studies have already shown that seaweeds can be used as NaCl replacers in common foods while increasing their content in elements that are oftentimes deficient in European population. In turn, high concentrations of some elements, such as I, need to be carefully addressed when evaluating seaweed consumption, since excessive intake of this element was proven to have negative impacts on health. In this regard, studies point out that although very bioaccessible, I bioavailability seems to be low, contrarily to other elements, such as Na, K, and Fe. Another weakness of seaweed consumption is their capacity to accumulate several toxic metals, which can pose some health risks. Therefore, considering the current great expansion of seaweed consumption by the Western population, specific regulations on this subject should be laid down. This review presents an overview of the mineral content of prevalent edible European macroalgae, highlighting the main factors interfering in their accumulation. Furthermore, the impact of using these marine vegetables as functional ingredients or NaCl replacers in foods will be discussed. Finally, the relationship between macroalgae’s toxic metals content and the lack of European legislation to regulate them will be addressed.

In Africa, livestock production currently accounts for about 30% of the gross value of agricultural production. However, production is struggling to keep up with the demands of expanding human populations, the rise in urbanization and the associated shifts in diet habits. High costs of feed prevent the livestock sector from thriving and to meet the rising demand. Insects have been identified as potential alternatives to the conventionally used protein sources in livestock feed due to their rich nutrients content and the fact that they can be reared on organic side streams. Substrates derived from organic by-products are suitable for industrial large-scale production of insect meal. Thus, a holistic comparison of the nutritive value of Black Soldier Fly larvae (BSFL) reared on three different organic substrates, i.e. chicken manure (CM), brewers’ spent grain (SG) and kitchen waste (KW), was conducted. BSFL samples reared on every substrate were collected for chemical analysis after the feeding process. Five-hundred (500) neonatal BSFL were placed in 23 × 15 cm metallic trays on the respective substrates for a period of 3–4 weeks at 28 ± 2 °C and 65 ± 5% relative humidity. The larvae were harvested when the prepupal stage was reached using a 5 mm mesh size sieve. A sample of 200 grams prepupae was taken from each replicate and pooled for every substrate and then frozen at −20 °C for chemical analysis. Samples of BSFL and substrates were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extracts (EE), ash, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), amino acids (AA), fatty acids (FA), vitamins, flavonoids, minerals and aflatoxins. The data were then subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using general linear model procedure. BSFL differed in terms of nutrient composition depending on the organic substrates they were reared on. CP, EE, minerals, amino acids, ADF and NDF but not vitamins were affected by the different rearing substrates. BSFL fed on different substrates exhibited different accumulation patterns of minerals, with CM resulting in the largest turnover of minerals. Low concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium and lead) were detected in the BSFL, but no traces of aflatoxins were found. In conclusion, it is possible to take advantage of the readily available organic waste streams in Kenya to produce nutrient-rich BSFL-derived feed.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the efficacy of micro-Raman spectroscopy on detecting mineral content change during the demineralization and de/remineralization cycling process. The enamel samples ( n  = 55) were randomly divided into three groups and separately treated with demineralization solution ( n  = 20), de/remineralization cycling solution ( n  = 30), and distilled water ( n  = 5). Micro-Raman spectroscopy, microhardness (MHS), and the released calcium ions concentration were performed before and after treatment, respectively. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a post hoc Tukey test was used to analyze the results. The Spearman correlation coefficients among the parameters of Raman relative intensity decrease (RRI D %), the percentage of MHS loss (PML), and the released calcium ions concentration were also analyzed. In demineralization group, RRI D %, PML, and released calcium ions concentration were highly correlated with each other ( r  = 0.979, p  < 0.001; r  = 0.984, p  < 0.001; and r  = 0.983, p  < 0.001, respectively). While for the de/remineralization cycling group, there also existed a high correlation between RRI D % and PML ( r  = 0.987, p  < 0.001). In conclusion, micro-Raman spectroscopy could effectively monitor the mineral content change, and its efficacy was validated by the measurement of released calcium ions concentration and MHS.