Intake Of Trace Elements Research Articles

Trace Element Intake and Major Adverse Kidney Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with Severe Sepsis

Trace Element Intake and Major Adverse Kidney Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with Severe Sepsis

Serum levels of iron, zinc, selenium, copper and oxidative stress in hypertensive patients: A comparative study of age-related changes in the governorate of Basrah, Iraq

Hypertension is the force of blood through blood vessels, where the heart works harder and blood vessels are under more pressure. The relationship between trace element levels and oxidative stress in hypertension is under investigation, with conflicting results. This study aimed to determine the relationship between concentrations of certain antioxidant trace elements (iron, zinc, selenium, and copper) and protein carbonyl concentration as an indicator of oxidative stress in the serum of hypertensive patients compared to the control group in Basra, Iraq, according to age. The study included 100 hypertensive patients (44 males and 56 females) compared to 50 healthy individuals (25 males and 25 females). Patients were divided into three age groups: 35–45, 46–56, and over 57 years. The study showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in the mean concentration of all selected elements in the patients' serum compared to the control group. Conversely, the mean protein carbonyl level showed a significant increase (p<0.001) in patients compared to the control group. Trace element concentrations decreased in patients with increasing age, while carbonyl protein levels increased, especially in the third age group. The study also showed a significant negative correlation between protein carbonyl level and all trace elements at p<0.001. These results suggest that hypertension is associated with an imbalance in oxidative stress and trace elements. Monitoring trace element intake may help reduce oxidative stress and improve overall health in individuals with hypertension, especially with advancing age, by restoring the balance of essential elements and antioxidants in the body.

The Policy of Compulsory Large-Scale Food Fortification in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Food fortification with micronutrients was initially justified in developed countries by a lack of availability of micronutrients in staple crops, mainly due to soil exhaustion. However, in Sub-Saharan arable lands, soil fatigue is not predominant, and communities consume mostly home-grown, organic, non-processed crops. Sub-Saharan food systems are nevertheless deeply entwined with food insecurity, driver of illnesses. Family production can promote subsistence, food stability, and self-sufficiency, the main SSA setback being the vicious cycle of poverty and the lack of dietary variety, contributing to malnutrition. Poverty reduction and women's education are significant strategies for reducing child and adolescent undernourishment. Fortification of foods consumed daily by individuals makes sense and can minimize, if not entirely, eliminate deficiencies. Compulsory mass fortification of foods in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with single micronutrients is, however, controversial since they work in synergy among each other and with the food matrix, for optimal absorption and metabolism. Since the causes of malnutrition are many, caused by diverse, unequal, and unjust food distribution, interrelated with political, social, cultural, or economic factors, education status of the population, season and climatic changes, and effectiveness of nutrition programs, just food fortification cannot solve the composite of all these elements. Further, compulsory fortification is excessive, unproductive, and likely harmful to human health, while many challenges remain in assessing the quality of available premixes. Furthermore, aiming at dietary diversification is the best approach of increasing trace element intake from commonly accessible and easily available food sources.

Associations of movement behaviours and dietary intake with arterial stiffness: results from the ORISCAV-LUX 2 cross-sectional study

ObjectiveAdopting a physically active lifestyle and maintaining a diet rich in antioxidants can reduce the risk of vascular diseases. Arterial stiffness is an early marker for cardiovascular diseases, indicating vascular...

The Association Between Psoriasis and Trace Element Serum Levels and Dietary Intake: Results from USA National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014.

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease. However, trace elements are essential to biochemical processes of the skin, it is suspected that the trace elements are vital in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Our research is aimed to investigate the association between serum levels and dietary intake levels of selenium, zinc, and copper with psoriasis. In this cross-sectional study, we utilized the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2011 to 2014 to examine the association between psoriasis and serum concentration and dietary intake of trace elements including copper, zinc, and selenium in the US individuals. Our research combined two cycles and weighted the data. Student's t-tests and χ2 test were used. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were conducted by IBM SPSS Statistics 22 and EmpowerStats. This study indicates that the population with psoriasis has a lower dose of dietary intake selenium than the controls, and risk analysis showed that the men with selenium daily intake >150 mcg/day have a decreasing risk for psoriasis compared to those with daily intaking selenium <75 mcg/day. However, there are no differences on daily intake of selenium, zinc, and copper and serum levels of Zinc and Copper between psoriasis and healthy controls. The current study showed that the psoriasis group was significantly older with a bigger waist circumference, a higher education level, a higher ratio of people with smoke every day, and a higher ratio of people in USA and being non-Hispanic White. This cross-section study showed that a high selenium intake may benefit USA adults from psoriasis, especially for males. The social and cultural background and ethnic differences between the two groups influence the eating and living models, including the trace element intake. The national recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) might be considered to be modified with more reliable investigative clinical data and certain considering the social and cultural models.

The "Magnificent Seven" in Oral and Systemic Health against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all areas of daily life, including medical care. Unfortunately, to date, no specific treatments have been found for the cure of this disease, and therefore, it is advisable to implement all possible strategies to prevent infection. In this context, it is important to better define the role of all behaviors, in particular nutrition, in order to establish whether these can both prevent infection and improve the outcome of the disease in patients with COVID-19. There is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that immune response can be weakened by inadequate nutrition. Nutrition management and treatment are very important to enhance the immune response of an infected person against RNA viral infection. A complete nutritional assessment should include anthropometric, dietary, and laboratorial assessment, as well as a multidisciplinary discussion about the patient's clinical condition. In this way, it is possible to establish an individualized nutritional approach to contribute to improving clinical and nutritional prognoses. From this point of view, diet, through intake of vitamins and trace elements and maintaining adequate functioning of the intestinal barrier, can reduce the severity of the COVID-19 infection. In this study, we provide an overview of the effects of diet on COVID-19 infection in non-cancer patients. This notion needs to be further evaluated, and thus, identification, characterization, and targeting of the right nutrition principles related to the management of patients with COVID-19 are likely to improve outcomes and may prevent the infection or lead to a cure.

Exploring the Causal Effects of Mineral Metabolism Disorders on Telomere and Mitochondrial DNA: A Bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis

The aim of this study was to assess the causal relationships between mineral metabolism disorders, representative of trace elements, and key aging biomarkers: telomere length (TL) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN). Utilizing bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis in combination with the two-stage least squares (2SLS) method, we explored the causal relationships between mineral metabolism disorders and these aging indicators. Sensitivity analysis can be used to determine the reliability and robustness of the research results. The results confirmed that a positive causal relationship was observed between mineral metabolism disorders and TL (p &lt; 0.05), while the causal relationship with mtDNA-CN was not significant (p &gt; 0.05). Focusing on subgroup analyses of specific minerals, our findings indicated a distinct positive causal relationship between iron metabolism disorders and both TL and mtDNA-CN (p &lt; 0.05). In contrast, disorders in magnesium and phosphorus metabolism did not exhibit significant causal effects on either aging biomarker (p &gt; 0.05). Moreover, reverse MR analysis did not reveal any significant causal effects of TL and mtDNA-CN on mineral metabolism disorders (p &gt; 0.05). The combination of 2SLS with MR analysis further reinforced the positive causal relationship between iron levels and both TL and mtDNA-CN (p &lt; 0.05). Notably, the sensitivity analysis did not indicate significant pleiotropy or heterogeneity within these causal relationships (p &gt; 0.05). These findings highlight the pivotal role of iron metabolism in cellular aging, particularly in regulating TL and sustaining mtDNA-CN, offering new insights into how mineral metabolism disorders influence aging biomarkers. Our research underscores the importance of trace element balance, especially regarding iron intake, in combating the aging process. This provides a potential strategy for slowing aging through the adjustment of trace element intake, laying the groundwork for future research into the relationship between trace elements and healthy aging.

Assessment of macro, trace and toxic element intake from rice: differences between cultivars, pigmented and non-pigmented rice

Pigmented and non-pigmented rice varieties (grown in different areas) were collected in China, Yunnan, to investigate the content of macro-, trace elements and potentially toxic elements (PTEs), and to assess the health risk associated with dietary intake. The order of elemental concentrations in rice was Mn > Zn > Fe > Cu > Se for trace elements, P > K > Mg > Ca > Na for macro elements, and Cr > As > Cd for PTEs. Rice with a high concentration of essential elements also associated with a high content of PTEs. In addition, higher content of Cr, Mn and Na were found in pigmented rice. The health risk assessment showed that the daily intake of all elements was below the tolerable limit (UL). Moreover the intake of Fe, Zn and Se was far from sufficient for the nutrient requirement. The PTEs in rice dominated the health risk. Of concern is that this rice consumption is likely to contribute to carcinogenic risks in the long term and that adults are at higher health risk from pigmented rice compared to non-pigmented rice. This study confirms that the lack of essential micronutrients in rice and the health risk associated with rice diets should remain a concern.

Iron Supplementation Increases Tumor Burden and Alters Protein Expression in a Mouse Model of Human Intestinal Cancer.

Iron supplements are widely consumed. However, excess iron may accelerate intestinal tumorigenesis. To determine the effect of excess iron on intestinal tumor burden and protein expression changes between tumor and normal tissues, ApcMin/+ mice were fed control (adequate) and excess iron (45 and 450 mg iron/kg diet, respectively; n = 9/group) for 10 wk. Tumor burden was measured, and two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis was used to identify differentially expressed proteins in tumor and normal intestinal tissues. There was a significant increase (78.3%; p ≤ 0.05) in intestinal tumor burden (mm2/cm) with excess iron at wk 10. Of 980 analyzed protein spots, 69 differentially expressed (p ≤ 0.05) protein isoforms were identified, representing 55 genes. Of the isoforms, 56 differed (p ≤ 0.05) between tumor vs. normal tissues from the adequate iron group and 23 differed (p ≤ 0.05) between tumors from the adequate vs. excess iron. Differentially expressed proteins include those involved in cell integrity and adaptive response to reactive oxygen species (including, by gene ID: ANPEP, DPP7, ITGB1, PSMA1 HSPA5). Biochemical pathway analysis found that iron supplementation modulated four highly significant (p ≤ 0.05) functional networks. These findings enhance our understanding of interplay between dietary iron and intestinal tumorigenesis and may help develop more specific dietary guidelines regarding trace element intake.

Dietary Intake and Exposure Assessment of Trace Elements in Infants' Diets: A Case Study in Kuwait.

Different types of infant foods categorized as formulas, cereals, and purees imported from seven different countries and available on the Kuwaiti retail market were collected to determine the elemental content, including essential trace elements namely chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), and molybdenum (Mo); potentially toxic trace elements such as aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), and uranium (U); and toxic trace elements including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). The samples were analyzed using ICP-MS. An extensive literature search illustrated the uniqueness of this study since seven different essential elements, five different potentially toxic elements, and four different toxic trace elements were measured in a variety of infant foods; in addition, the different trace etlemental levels measured in the investigated infant foods were compared to the ones associated with the different infant foods types reported in the literature. The essential trace element concentrations detected in this study were implemented to calculate their total daily intake, where the calculated daily intake values were compared to their recommended dietary allowance (RDA) to assess the percentage total daily intake for the essential trace elements. Further, the calculated potentially toxic and toxic trace elements daily intake values were used to assess the potential health risks to infants incurred by consuming different infant foods by calculating the hazard quotient (HQ), while the margin of exposure (MOE) was calculated for the toxic ones only. It was concluded that infant formulas and foods should be added to the infant diet in addition to breast milk to meet specific nutritional needs. This study confirms that infants are exposed to toxic trace elements via diet, warranting careful attention to diet choices both to limit this exposure and to avert potentially hazardous adverse health effects to the infants. However, based on the calculated hazard quotients (HQs) and margin of exposures (MOEs), consuming breast milk in addition to almost all different types of infant foods is considered safe and unlikely to contribute to infants' non-cancerous health hazards.

The arsenic-lowering effect of inulin-type prebiotics in end-stage renal disease: a randomized crossover trial.

Background: Circulatory imbalance of trace elements is frequent in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), leading to a deficiency of essential elements and excess of toxic elements. The present study aimed to investigate whether inulin-type fructans (ITFs) could ameliorate the circulatory imbalance by modulating gut microbiota and regulating the absorption and elimination of trace elements. Methods: Peritoneal dialysis patients were enrolled in a randomized crossover trial, undergoing interventions with ITFs (10 g d-1) and maltodextrin (placebo) over a 9-month period (with a 3-month washout). The primary outcomes included essential elements Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Sr, and Mo and potential toxic elements V, Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Ba, Tl, Pb, Th, and U in plasma. Secondary outcomes included the gut microbiome, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), and daily removal of trace elements through urine, dialysate and feces. Results: Among the 44 participants initially randomized, 29 completed the prebiotic, placebo or both interventions. The daily dietary intake of macronutrients and trace elements remained consistent throughout the study. The administration of 10 g d-1 ITFs significantly reduced plasma arsenic (As) by 1.03 μg L-1 (95%CI: -1.74, -0.33) (FDR-adjusted P = 0.045) down from the baseline of 3.54 μg L-1 (IQRs: 2.61-4.40) and increased the As clearance rate by urine and dialysis (P = 0.033). Positive changes in gut microbiota were also observed, including an increase in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (P = 0.050), a trend towards higher fecal SCFAs (P = 0.082), and elevated excretion of primary BAs (P = 0.035). However, there were no significant changes in plasma concentrations of other trace elements or their daily removal by urine, dialysis and feces. Conclusions: The daily administration of 10 g d-1 ITFs proved to be effective in reducing the circulating retention of As but demonstrated to be ineffective for other trace elements in ESRD. These sentences are ok to include but as "The clinical trial registry number is ChiCTR-INR-17013739 (https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=21228)".

Probabilistic Assessment of the Intake of Trace Elements by Consumption of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) Meat

The aim of this work was to study the nutritional value of game meat through the fulfillments of Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for trace elements (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Se, and Zn). A probabilistic model (@Risk) was developed based on the consumption data of hunter-consumers obtained from a previously published survey. Two game species widely consumed in Europe were selected: red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Red deer muscle had the highest content of Cr (0.25 mg/kg) and Zn (44.3 mg/kg) and wild boar muscle recorded the highest Cu (2.23 mg/kg), Ni (0.60 mg/kg), and Se (0.19 mg/kg), showing statistically significant differences between the two species for these elements. No statistically significant differences were found for Fe between both game species (red deer: 52.9 mg/kg and wild boar: 53.3 mg/kg). Co content in this kind of meat was negligible for both species. The results obtained from the simulation of the probabilistic model with red deer indicated that a consumption once per week of this meat fulfills Cr, Fe, and Zn DRIs for the 95th percentile in hunter-consumers. Regarding wild boar, the values obtained also fulfill the Fe DRI and were between 61 and 75% for the rest of the trace elements analyzed.

Local biogeochemical cycles of trace elements in agroecosystems of Western Siberia

The article presents the results of long-term field experiments (2005-2022) to study the distribution and migration of trace elements in the soil-plant-animal system on the example of agrocenoses of the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia. A biogeochemical assessment of the content of trace elements (Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Se) in trophic chains under certain agroecological conditions is given. The analysis of geochemical factors affecting the accumulation of trace elements in various types of soils and plants growing on them has been carried out. Normative quantitative characteristics of the action of trace elements on the chemical composition of the soil, productivity and quality of plants of grain, fodder and vegetable crops have been established. The relationship of macro- and microelements when they enter plants is shown, depending on the level and ratio of chemical elements in the soil, the physiological needs of the plant organism at different stages of ontogenesis.The parameters of the intake of trace elements into the body of animals with plant food under the conditions of model experiments have been established. Structural and functional changes in animal organs during feeding with crop products grown with different content of trace elements are analyzed.

Trace elements accumulation and health risk assessment of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) from monoculture and rice-crab co-culture mode

The rice-crab co-culture system has become the dominant mode of farming due to its advantageous production of crabs. To investigate the effects of different culture modes on trace element accumulation and health risks though consumption, we determined the concentrations of 16 trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, V, Zn) in Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) from conventional monoculture (CM) and rice-crab co-culture system (RCCS) in two primary producing areas of China. Significant variations were found between CM and RCCS concerning trace element accumulation, with most trace elements showing higher levels in CM than in RCCS, except for Mn and Al. Correlation and PCA analysis indicate that RCCS has less environmental impact than CM. Moreover, the metal pollution index was also higher in CM than in RCCS. Based on the target hazard quotient (THQ), RCCS reduces the health risk associated with trace elements intake compared to CM. THQ values for both modes of culture are less than 1, indicating no or low health risks posed by trace elements in crabs. Further studies are needed in comparing the trace element accumulation in crabs from CM and RCCS within the same geographic area.

Dietary sources apportionment and health risk assessment for trace elements among residents of the Tethys-Himalayan tectonic domain in Tibet, China.

Dietary intake of toxic elements (TEs) and essential trace elements (ETEs) can significantly impact human health. This study collected 302 samples, including 78 food, 104 drinking water, 73 cultivated topsoil, and 47 sedimentary rock from a typical area of Tethys-Himalaya tectonic domain. These samples were used to calculate the average daily dose of oral intake (ADDoral) and assess the health risks of five TEs and five ETEs. The results indicate that grain and meat are the primary dietary sources of TEs and ETEs for local residents. The intake of manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) is mainly from local highland barley (66.90% and 60.32%, respectively), iron (Fe) is primarily from local grains (75.51%), and zinc (Zn) is mainly from local yak meat (60.03%). The ADDoral of arsenic (As), Mn, Fe and Zn were found to be higher than the maximum oral reference dose in all townships of study area, indicating non-carcinogenic health risks for local residents. Additionally, lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) in 36.36% townships, and Cu in 81.82% townships were above the maximum oral reference dose, while As posed a carcinogenic risk throughout the study area. The concentrations of As, mercury (Hg), Pb, Mn, Cu Fe and selenium (Se) in grains were significantly correlated with those in soils. Moreover, the average concentrations of As in Proterozoic, Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous was 43.09, 12.41, 15.86 and 6.22 times higher than those in the South Tibet shell, respectively. The high concentrations of TEs and ETEs in the stratum can lead to their enrichment in soils, which, in turn, can result in excessive intake by local residents through the food chain and biogeochemical cycles . To avoid the occurrence of some diseases caused by dietary intake, it is necessary to consume a variety of exotic foods, such as high-selenium foods, foreign rice and flour in order to improve the dietary structure.

Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment of exposure to trace elements in groundwater resources of Sari city, Iran.

The daily intake of trace elements through water resources and their adverse health effects is a critical issue. The purpose of this research was to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of exposure to iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) in groundwater resources of Sari city, Iran. The concentrations of the trace elements in a total number of 66 samples from the groundwater sources were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The hazard index (HI) levels of exposure to the trace elements from the groundwater sources for adults, teenagers, and children were 0.65, 0.83, and 1.08, respectively. The carcinogenic risk values of Cr and As in the groundwater sources for children, teenagers, and adults were 0.0001, 0.00009, 0.00007, 0.0003, 0.0002, and 0.0001, respectively, causing a total carcinogenic risk value higher than the acceptable range, and removing Cr and As from the groundwater resources is recommended for safe community water supply.

Monitoring and evaluating the dietary risk of trace elements content in bottled and hand-shaken tea in Taiwan.

Tea is the most frequently consumed beverage worldwide and is obtained from the leaves Camellia sinensis. The traditional way of tea consumption through brewing is gradually being replaced by the consumption of bottled and hand-shaken tea. Despite the different ways of tea consumption, trace elements accumulation and contamination of tea leaves have caused concerns. However, limited studies have reported trace element concentrations in different types of tea in bottled or hand-shaken tea and their health risks. This study aimed to determine the level of trace elements (V, Cr, Co, As, Cd, Pb, Mn, and Zn) in green tea, black tea, and Oolong tea in two varieties of products (bottled and hand-shaken tea). The health risks associated with tea consumption in various age subgroups among Taiwan's general population were also estimated. A Monte Carlo simulation was applied to estimate the distribution of daily trace elements intake through bottled and hand-shaken tea consumption. As to the non-carcinogenic risks, the Monte Carlo simulation showed that hand-shaken green tea had a higher percentage of hazard index (HI) >1 (1.08%~6.05%) among all age groups. As to carcinogenic risks, the Monte Carlo simulation showed that the risks of As exposure from bottled Oolong tea and hand-shaken black, green, and Oolong teas in the 90th percentile in >18 to ≤65 and >65-year-old groups were higher than 10-6. The current study findings provided some information about trace elements of both bottled and hand-shaken tea and human health risks in the general population of Taiwan.

Determination of Immune-Boosting Trace Elements In Selected Fruit Seeds

The deluge of processed food in the world has led to an incalculable number of health problems and increased mortality. Consequently, a healthy and long life has become a gem that every human being is chasing in this modern society. Due to the lacuna of information about a healthy lifestyle, scientists have shifted their focal point to carry out painstaking research in the field of nutrition such as trace elements. Reviewing prior literature, it is evident that controlled intake of trace elements leads to healthy skin and hair, aids in blood sugar control, prevents osteoporosis, and is involved in protein synthesis, treatment of hypertension, and inflammatory conditions. Intake of large amounts of the elements brings about health problems lowering the body's immunity. This study analyzed trace elements of selected fruit seeds (watermelon seeds, orange seeds, pawpaw seeds, avocado seeds) commonly consumed in Kendu Bay, Homa Bay County, and club 36, Nairobi County to determine the moisture content and levels of trace elements in the seeds then compare the concentrations of the trace elements (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn) in the various selected fruit seeds with the limits recommended by WHO and FAO. The wet digestion method was used to digest them after which they were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The average moisture content in orange, pawpaw, watermelon, and avocado seeds was 50.26%, 87.38, 72.19%, and 63.75 respectively. The levels of the trace elements were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results indicated that all the trace elements positively correlated with copper, giving a strong correlation coefficient (r=0.9997) with a regression equation of y=0.0238x-0.0002, while manganese had the lowest correlation (r= 0.9617). Pawpaw seeds from Kendu Bay had the highest levels of zinc (0.6020±0.5794mg/kg), magnesium (4.2270±0.1479mg/kg), and manganese (0.2743±0.0564mg/kg). Avocado seed from club 36 had the lowest levels of zinc (0.2102±0.0076mg/kg) and magnesium (1.6063±0.0594mg/kg). Orange seeds from club 36 recorded the highest levels of copper (0.1597±0.0005mg/kg), while pawpaw seeds from club 36 recorded the lowest levels of copper (0.1177±0.0004mg/kg). It is evident from the results that magnesium was the abundant trace mineral in all the fruit seed samples, with a concentration of 4.2270±0.1479mg/kg in pawpaw seeds from Kendu Bay. Manganese and copper recorded the lowest levels across all samples. Comparing the results with WHO/FAO permissible limits for trace minerals in food, all elements in the fruit seed samples were below and within the permissible levels. Iron contents were below the detection limit in all samples. The findings of this study will provide additional information on the immune-boosting trace elements present in the selected fruit seeds from Kendu Bay and Club 36, Nairobi. The study will be of great importance to nutritionists, consumers worldwide, and health agencies in creating awareness of the health benefits of fruit seed consumption

Content of Trace Elements and Human Health Risk Assessment via Consumption of Commercially Important Fishes from Montenegrin Coast

Muscle tissues of Mullus barbatus and Merluccius merluccius were analyzed for the presence of selected trace elements (As, Hg, Cd, and Pb) to determine the value of the daily intake of trace elements from fish consumption and to assess the risk to human health. The mean concentrations of As in the muscle tissue of M. barbatus and M. merluccius for the entire period were 19.689 mg/kg wet weight (ww) and 8.356 mg/kg ww, Hg 0.497 mg/kg ww and 0.153 mg/kg ww, and Pb 0.031 mg/kg ww and 0.025 mg/kg ww, respectively. The concentrations of Cd in all fish sampled were below the detection limit (<0.02 mg/kg ww). The evaluation of the potential health risk assessments based on the target hazard quotient (THQ) and estimated daily intake (EDI) indicated that the intake of As in both fish species and Hg for M. barbatus could pose an appreciable risk to human health. The calculated hazard index (HI) was higher than 1 for both fish species. The continuous monitoring of trace elements' concentrations in fish is strongly recommended, as the results demonstrate potential health risks due to the presence of As and Hg.

Food Intake of Macro and Trace Elements from Different Fresh Vegetables Taken from Timisoara Market, Romania-Chemometric Analysis of the Results.

Vegetable consumption is recommended and encouraged by all nutritionists and doctors across the planet. However, in addition to minerals which are beneficial to the body, certain minerals with a negative influence on human health can sneak in. It is very important that in the case of some minerals their content in vegetables is known, so that the recommended limits are not exceeded. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the macro elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg) and trace elements (Cu, Mn, Fe, Cd, Pb, Zn, Co) in 24 samples of vegetables from four botanical families (Solanaceae, Brassicaceae, Apiaceae and Amaryllidaceae), purchased from the market in Timișoara, Romania, both imported products as well as local products. The atomic-absorption-spectrometry technique (FAAS) was used to evaluate the macro elements and trace elements. The values obtained for the macro elements and trace elements were used as input data for the analysis of multivariate data, the principal component analysis (PCA) in which the vegetable samples were grouped according to their contribution of certain mineral elements, as well as according to some of the botanical families to which they belong. At the same time, based on the values obtained for trace elements, an assessment of the risk to human health in terms of consumption of the vegetables studied was carried out. The risk assessment for human health was determined on the basis of the estimated daily dose (EDI), the values of the target hazard coefficient (THQ), the values of the total target hazard coefficient (TTHQ) and the carcinogenic risk (CR). Following the determination of THQ, the values obtained followed the order THQWith > THQCd > THQPb > THQCo > THQMn > THQZn > THQFe. The results on the content of macro elements and trace elements, as well as the assessment of the risk to human health when consuming the assessed vegetables, were within the limits of European Union (EU) and World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization (WHO/FAO)legislation.