Determination and evaluation of element bioaccessibility in some nuts and seeds by in-vitro gastro-intestinal method

Similarities and differences in the nutritional composition of nuts and seeds in Serbia

Nuts and seeds are an indispensable part of the plant-based diet, which is becoming increasingly popular due to the evidence of their health benefits and contribution to sustainability and planetary health. Since the health effects of consuming nuts and seeds directly depend on their nutritional composition and consumed amount, it is essential to know the exact chemical composition of each nut and seed so that appropriate dietary interventions can be adequately planned. The present study aimed to examine the chemical composition of nuts and seeds obtained from the Serbian market and to highlight the similarities and differences in their nutritional composition. In twenty-four samples of nuts and seeds, the content of total lipids, including fatty acid profile, total proteins, including amino acid profile, total carbohydrates (sugars and fibers), phytosterols, and minerals were determined. Content of selected nutrients in grams (g) or milligrams (mg) of nuts and seeds was expressed in one portion (28 g) and as a percentage of contribution of Reference Intakes (% RI) and Dietary Reference Value (% DRV) for macronutrients and minerals, respectively. Some of the seed representatives appeared to be rich sources of essential omega-3 fatty acid, α-linolenic acid (ALA) (flax seed vs. walnut, 6.50 vs. 0.56 g per portion, respectively), dietary fibers (chia seed vs. raw almond, 10.6 vs. 3.4 g per portion, respectively), calcium (black sesame seed vs. almond roasted, 32.4% NRV vs. 8.1% NRV per portion, respectively), magnesium (hemp seed vs. Brazil nut, 38.3% NRV vs. 27.8% NRV per portion, respectively), and zinc (hemp seed vs. pine nut, 21.4% NRV vs. 17.6% NRV per portion, respectively). Our results highlighted the crucial role of seeds in the diet, especially as a better source of nutrients compared to nuts. Furthermore, it was seen that nuts and seeds are different and complementary in their composition. Thus, in order to meet the needs for certain nutrients for which nuts and seeds are used as dietary sources (essential fatty acids, minerals, dietary fibers), it would be beneficial to combine both nuts and seeds as a part of a healthy dietary pattern.

Effect of losartan potassium, metformin hydrochloride, and simvastatin on in vitro bioaccessibility of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in oat flour from Brazil

BACKGROUND

The simultaneous administration of drugs with food can compromise the bioaccessibility and absorption of nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the use of losartan potassium (LP), metformin hydrochloride (MH), and simvastatin (S) on the in vitro bioaccessibility of micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) in oat flour from Bahia, Brazil.

METHODS

The experimental procedure consisted of the in vitro extraction of the bioaccessible fraction of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in oat flour-with and without LP (50 mg), MH (500 mg), and S (20 mg)-using the unified bioaccessibility method (UBM), simulating the conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. For decomposition of the samples (oat flour and residue), a digester block with a closed system was used. To determine the total content (flour and residual fraction) and bioaccessible micronutrients, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) was used.

RESULTS

The bioaccessible contents (µg g^-1) without the addition of drugs were: Cu 5.86 ± 0.21, Fe 32.80 ± 1.32, Mn 87.90 ± 1.90, and Zn 30.33 ± 2.05, with bioaccessibility ranging from 31.5 % for Fe to 99 % for Mn. The in vitro extraction method was validated by mass balance with recovery values from 89.78 % for Cu to 101.94 % for Mn. The range of bioaccessible contents (µg g^-1) were: Cu (<4.14), Fe (32.10 ± 0.20-54.10 ± 2.03), Mn (81.40 ± 0.93-93.22 ± 0.80), and Zn (<10.80-29.11 ± 2.20). The estimation of the bioaccessibility of Cu, Mn, and Zn in oat flour were compromised in the presence of LP, MH, and S (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Chemical interactions can occur between drugs and micronutrients. Taken together, our results highlight that LP, MH, and S can interfere with the bioaccessibility of Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in oat flour in patients who use these drugs, suggesting its rational use in further investigations.

Effect of conservation methods on the bioaccessibility of bioelements from in vitro-digested edible mushrooms

BACKGROUND

The release of bioelements from edible mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus, Cantharellus cibarius, and Imleria badia) was examined using in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion to assess their health-promoting potential. The following samples were tested: fresh, frozen, dried in a food dryer, dried in the sun, and lyophilized. The samples were incubated in gastric juice (pepsin, NaCl, HCl) and in intestinal juice (NaHCO₃ , pancreatin, bile salts) with the aim of verifying the bioaccessibility of the bioelements and the digestibility of mushrooms. Four bioelements that are essential for the human body were studied: Mg, Zn, Cu, and Fe.

RESULTS

It was found that Mg was extracted in the highest amounts from the sun-dried A. bisporus (1.620 g kg^-1 d.w.). In the case of microelements, the lyophilized fruiting bodies of I. badia released Zn in the highest quantities (0.180 g kg^-1 d.w.). Lyophilization and sun-drying methods were more advantageous than other methods. Fresh material was a more valuable source of bioelements than frozen material.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that edible mushrooms have a high content of bioelements that are easily bioaccessible, which indicates their health-promoting properties. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Determination of the Toxic and Nutrient Element Content of Almonds, Walnuts, Hazelnuts and Pistachios by ICP-AES

The trace element content of thirty-two nuts including almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and pistachios available in a Greek market was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Wet acid digestion using nitric acid (65%) took place in Teflon autoclaves. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged between 0.01 (Mg)–2.52 (Cu) μg g−1 and 0.02 (Mg)–8.40 (Cu) μg g−1, respectively. Good method linearity (r2 > 0.9990) was observed for each element at the selected emission lines. The metals were quantified and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine whether or not there were any statistically significant differences among the metal concentrations inside the different nut species.

Bioaccessibility and speciation of arsenic in children's diets and health risk assessment of an endemic area in Bangladesh

This study determines the bioaccessibility of toxic and carcinogenic arsenic (As) in composite food samples and evaluates potential exposure from food intake in Bangladesh children. Total As (tAs), inorganic As (iAs) and bioaccessible As (BAs) in food composite samples consumed by children were compared between an exposed and a control group (based on As in drinking water). Total As concentrations in composite food samples of children exposed to mean As level of 331 µg/l in drinking and cooking water ranged from 586 to 1975 µg/kg, dry weight over 76-90 µg/kg in the unexposed group. Average iAs in food composites was 73.9% (range: 49.3-90.8%). The fraction of BAs using gastric and gastrointestinal phases was 91 ± 13% and 98 ± 11%, respectively. Daily intake of iAs in the exposed group ranged from 0.41 to 6.38 µg per kg body weight (BW), which was much higher than the unexposed group (0.08-0.15 µg per kg BW). High iAs content and BAs in composite food samples indicated the elevated risk to exposed children. Further research should include both adults and children using larger sample size to determine overall As exposure from food intake in Bangladesh, attention must be given to lowering of As in food.

Geochemical phases of soil and the bioaccessibility of some elements in soils and vegetables from boron mines

The bioaccessibility of some elements (As, B, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) in soils and vegetables was determined using the physiologically based extraction test. An investigation of the geochemical phases of soils through sequential extraction methods followed by ICP-MS detection was also undertaken. Samples were collected from Iskele, Begendikler and Yolbasi villages in the Bigadic region and Yildiz village in the Susurluk region of Balikesir province, Turkey. All of these villages are close to boron mines. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis demonstrated the interrelationship between the bioaccessibility values of these elements in the gastric and intestinal extracts of soils as well as the plant samples grown in those soils and the elements' concentrations in the different soil fractions. From the bioaccessible concentrations of the elements in the intestinal phases, it was shown that the amounts of As, B, Cu, Mn and Ni in some plant samples were higher than the recommended and tolerable values for human consumption. The bioaccessibilty of these elements in the soils and plants were statistically related with the concentrations of these elements in the labile phases of the soil. The methodology adopted here would be applicable to determining interactions between elements and soil fractions and the interrelationships between bioaccessibility data and soil fractions for any soil samples.

Simultaneous determination of Ba, Co, Fe, and Ni in nuts by high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry after extraction induced by solid-oil-water emulsion breaking

This paper describes the simultaneous determination of Ba, Co, Fe, and Ni in nuts by high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry after extraction induced by solid-oil-water emulsion breaking. Extraction yields ranged from 94.9 for Ba to 109.8% for Fe. Simultaneous measurements were carried out at secondary lines of Ba, Co, Fe, and Ni. The limits of detection and quantification were, respectively, 3.819 and 1.146 mg L^-1 for Ba, 2.274 and 7.421 µg L^-1 for Co, 0.095 and 0.285 mg L^-1 for Fe, and 2.138 and 6.614 µg L^-1 for Ni. The precision ranged from 3.1 to 4.2%, 1.5 to 8.0%, 1.6 to 6.6%, and 0.4 to 6.1% for Ba, Co, Fe and Ni, respectively. The method accuracy was assessed by recovery tests and comparison of the results obtained by the proposed extraction method with those obtained after acid digestion. Recoveries ranged from 93.5 for Ni to 104.5% for Co.

Stability of Arsenic Species During Bioaccessibility Assessment Using the In Vitro UBM and HPLC-ICP-MS Detection

The stability of four major arsenic (As) species during application of the BARGE (Bioaccessibility Research Group of Europe) unified bioaccessibility method (UBM) has been assessed. The concentrations of As species in the UBM gastric and gastro-intestinal (gastric + intestinal) phases were determined using HPLC-ICP-MS whilst the total As content in the samples was determined using ICP-MS alone. The arsenic species studied were arsenite As(III), arsenate As(V), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA). These species were separated in 10 min using an anion exchange column (Hamilton PRP-X100) with a mobile phase containing 20 mmol L^-1 NH₄H₂PO₄/1% methanol (pH 6.0). The recoveries of arsenic species spiked into the gastric and gastro-intestinal fluids were in the range 90-108%. No interconversion between As species was observed as a result of applying the BARGE UBM, which is a particularly important finding for the reliability of As(III) measurements. The accuracy of the BARGE UBM for in vitro extractable As(V) was verified using British Geological Survey (BGS) guidance material 102 (an ironstone soil). For a commercial rice sample, the bioaccessibility sequence of As was DMA > As(III) > As(V) for the gastric phase and As(III) > DMA > As(V) for the gastro-intestinal phase.

Evaluation of risk levels of trace elements in walnuts from China and their influence factors: Planting area and cultivar

The potential health risk of trace elements in nut foods has been widely concerned. The accumulations of trace elements by plants in the environment are disturbed by multiple factors. The objective of this work was to investigate the risk levels of trace elements in walnuts and their influence factors (planting area and cultivar). A total of 228 walnut samples were collected from four major walnut producing areas of China. The contents of essential elements for Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo and Se were 35.8, 21.9, 14.8, 0.3 and 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. The contribution of Cu for dietary reference intake was as high as 82.22%. The risk levels of potential toxicological elements and toxic elements within the acceptable limits. Significantly, the hazard quotients (HQs) of Ba and Co were up to 26.14% and 25.31%, respectively. The effect of planting area on trace elements was determined from the aspects of regional distribution and urbanization. Significant differences of essential elements were found between northeast and northwest areas. The urbanization directly influenced toxic elements, which could cause variation up to 85.0% (Pb) and 42.9% (As). Finally, cultivar effect was confirmed that all walnut cultivars were divided into four categories with different trace element characteristics.

Fruiting bodies of selected edible mushrooms as a potential source of lovastatin

Agaricus bisporus, Cantharellus cibarius, Imleria badia, and Lentinula edodes are among the most popular species of edible mushrooms in Poland. These edible mushrooms are an important source of biologically active substances exhibiting beneficial (e.g., antioxidant, antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory) effects on the human body. The fruiting bodies of edible mushrooms are also a valuable source of lovastatin, which belongs to a group of compounds, called statins, commonly used as cholesterol-lowering drugs. Due to the presence of lovastatin, edible mushrooms can be useful in the prevention of hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the content of lovastatin in the selected species of edible mushrooms and to evaluate its release into artificial digestive juices. This study was the first to determine the release of lovastatin into digestive juices after the extraction of materials obtained from edible mushrooms. The largest amount of lovastatin was found in the fruiting bodies of C. cibarius (67.89 mg/100 g d.w.), and the smallest in those of L. edodes (0.95 mg/100 g d.w.). The amount of lovastatin released from the extracts of the examined species into digestive juices was found to be relatively low. The highest content after incubation in artificial gastric juice was detected for the fruiting bodies of L. edodes (0.02 mg/100 g d.w.) and after incubation in the intestinal juice for the mycelium from the in vitro cultures of L. edodes (0.51 mg/100 g d.w.). Thus, the results of the present study showed that due to its ability to accumulate lovastatin from culture medium, L. edodes mycelium can be used to obtain a product with increased hypolipidemic activity.

Comparison Study of Iron Bioaccessibility from Dietary Supplements and Microencapsulated Preparations

Iron deficiency is the most common form of malnutrition. Factors responsible for this so-called "hidden hunger" include poor diet, increased micronutrient needs and health problems such as diseases and infections. Body iron status can be increased by the intake of dietary supplements and fortified food. The aim of the present study was to compare iron bioaccessibility from commercial nutritional supplements and iron microcapsules. A comparison study was performed under conditions mimicking gastric and gastrointestinal digestion. A preparation of encapsulated ferrous sulphate or lactate and vitamin C, in a formula, showed bioaccessibility factors of up to 100% when digested individually, and around 60% in the presence of a food matrix. The degree of oxidation of the ferrous ions differed, depending on the type of preparation, the presence of vitamin C and the food matrix. The highest percentage content of ferrous ion, in the soluble fractions after gastrointestinal digestion, was shown by the preparation containing microencapsulated ferrous lactate or ferrous sulphate and vitamin C. Encapsulation seems to limit the interaction of iron with the food matrix and protect it against oxidation, thus making it more accessible for intestinal uptake.

Bioaccessibility of calcium, iron and magnesium in residues of citrus and characterization of macronutrients

The aim of this study was to estimate bioaccessibility of Ca, Fe and Mg in residues of orange, lime, and their mixture, in order to evaluate the effects of cooking in water on mineral bioaccessibility and also to determine the composition of macronutrients and myo-inositol phosphate content. The citrus samples contained on average 9.53g/100 g moisture, 6.09g/100 g protein, 3.23g/100g ash, 3.15g/100g lipids, 34.26g/100g insoluble fiber, 27.88g/100g soluble fiber and 25.64g/100g carbohydrates. The percentage of soluble and dialyzable minerals ranged from 19.36 to 77.33% and from 5.59 to 69.06% for Fe, from 33.34 to 60.84% and 14.71 to -26.13% for Ca, and from 29.95 to 94.20% and 34.42 to 62.51%, for Mg, respectively. It was verified that cooking influenced the minerals bioaccessibility and increased the dialyzable fraction of Fe and Mg, but decreased the fraction of Ca dialysate, except to orange. No myoinositol phosphate esters were detected. The Principal Component Analysis allowed the separation of different types of citrus residues, but did not discriminate the raw and cooked samples. This study pointed the potential of citrus residue to be used for human consumption and contribute to the necessary dietary minerals and macronutrients, with high content of soluble and insoluble fibers.

Impact of ingredients on the elemental content of baby foods

The levels of the minerals: Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, and the trace elements: Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn were determined in foods for 4-6, 7+ and 10+ months old babies in a brand available on the UK market. The mineral contents in the vegetarian meals for all the age groups were similar, in contrast, when compared to the non-vegetarian options, the Ca, Na and P levels were higher in the former. Both the trace elements and minerals levels in the 4-6months vegetarian meal were the lowest of all the products analysed. The Cu, Se and Zn levels in all the meals were comparable to those in mature human breast milk. Calculations of the following molar ratios: Zn:Cu, Fe:Zn, and Fe:Mn, pairs of elements that have been shown to interaction antagonistically, were higher in the vegetarian meals.

Probabilistic uncertainty analysis based on Monte Carlo simulations of co-combustion of hazelnut hull and coal blends: Data-driven modeling and response surface optimization

The aim of present study is to investigate the thermogravimetric behaviour of the co-combustion of hazelnut hull (HH) and coal blends using three approaches: multi non-linear regression (MNLR) modeling based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) (1), optimization based on response surface methodology (RSM) (2), and probabilistic uncertainty analysis based on Monte Carlo simulation as a function of blend ratio, heating rate, and temperature (3). The response variable was predicted by the best-fit MNLR model with a predicted regression coefficient (R²_pred) of 99.5%. Blend ratio of 90/10 (HH to coal, %wt), temperature of 405°C, and heating rate of 44°Cmin^-1 were determined as RSM-optimized conditions with a mass loss of 87.4%. The validation experiments with three replications were performed for justifying the predicted-mass loss percentage and 87.5%±0.2 of mass loss were obtained under RSM-optimized conditions. The probabilistic uncertainty analysis were performed by using Monte Carlo simulations.

Co-combustion of peanut hull and coal blends: Artificial neural networks modeling, particle swarm optimization and Monte Carlo simulation

Co-combustion of coal and peanut hull (PH) were investigated using artificial neural networks (ANN), particle swarm optimization, and Monte Carlo simulation as a function of blend ratio, heating rate, and temperature. The best prediction was reached by ANN61 multi-layer perception model with a R(2) of 0.99994. Blend ratio of 90 to 10 (PH to coal, wt%), temperature of 305°C, and heating rate of 49°Cmin(-1) were determined as the optimum input values and yield of 87.4% was obtained under PSO optimized conditions. The validation experiments resulted in yields of 87.5%±0.2 after three replications. Monte Carlo simulations were used for the probabilistic assessments of stochastic variability and uncertainty associated with explanatory variables of co-combustion process.