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Nutrients Jul 2023Diet is a modifiable factor in bone and muscle health. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is rich in nutrients and contains key bioactive components with probable... (Review)
Review
Diet is a modifiable factor in bone and muscle health. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is rich in nutrients and contains key bioactive components with probable protective effects on muscle and bone deterioration. Osteoporosis (OP) and sarcopenia are diseases that increase frailty and susceptibility to fracture, morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is necessary to combat them in the population. In this regard, MedDiet adherence has proven to be beneficial to bone mineral density (BMD), muscle mass, physical function, OP and sarcopenia. Hence, this diet is proposed as a therapeutic tool that could slow the onset of osteoporosis and sarcopenia. However, there is doubt about the interaction between the MedDiet, strength and fracture risk. Perhaps the amount of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), fruits, vegetables and fish rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients ingested has an influence, though the results remain controversial.
Topics: Animals; Sarcopenia; Osteoporosis; Bone Density; Fractures, Bone; Olive Oil; Diet, Mediterranean
PubMed: 37513646
DOI: 10.3390/nu15143224 -
Nature May 2024Fossil fuels-coal, oil and gas-supply most of the world's energy and also form the basis of many products essential for everyday life. Their use is the largest... (Review)
Review
Fossil fuels-coal, oil and gas-supply most of the world's energy and also form the basis of many products essential for everyday life. Their use is the largest contributor to the carbon dioxide emissions that drive global climate change, prompting joint efforts to find renewable alternatives that might enable a carbon-neutral society by as early as 2050. There are clear paths for renewable electricity to replace fossil-fuel-based energy, but the transport fuels and chemicals produced in oil refineries will still be needed. We can attempt to close the carbon cycle associated with their use by electrifying refinery processes and by changing the raw materials that go into a refinery from fossils fuels to carbon dioxide for making hydrocarbon fuels and to agricultural and municipal waste for making chemicals and polymers. We argue that, with sufficient long-term commitment and support, the science and technology for such a completely fossil-free refinery, delivering the products required after 2050 (less fuels, more chemicals), could be developed. This future refinery will require substantially larger areas and greater mineral resources than is the case at present and critically depends on the capacity to generate large amounts of renewable energy for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide capture.
Topics: Carbon Cycle; Carbon Dioxide; Coal; Fossil Fuels; Hydrogen; Natural Gas; Petroleum; Renewable Energy; Oil and Gas Industry
PubMed: 38720037
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07322-2 -
Environmental Science. Processes &... Dec 2023The formation and sedimentation of oil-mineral aggregates (OMAs) is the major method to transport spilled oil to the seafloor. In this study, the formation and...
The formation and sedimentation of oil-mineral aggregates (OMAs) is the major method to transport spilled oil to the seafloor. In this study, the formation and sedimentation experiments of OMA using montmorillonite and four crude oils were performed in a wave tank in the presence of chemical dispersant. Most of the formed OMAs were droplet OMAs, and single droplet OMA would aggregate into multiple ones under the action of the dispersant. The size of the oil droplets trapped in the OMA increased with time and was larger for the oil with higher viscosity. The sinking velocities of OMAs formed in this study were between 100-1200 μm s and they were positively correlated with their diameter. The density of OMA was of the same order as that of the crude oil that formed them. An increase in the dispersant dosage could promote the formation of OMAs. The oil content in OMAs was higher for the denser oil in the presence of a dispersant. The maximum oil trapping efficiency of OMAs was 48.05%. This study provides fundamental data on the formation kinetics of OMAs.
Topics: Water Pollutants, Chemical; Petroleum; Mineral Oil; Geologic Sediments; Petroleum Pollution; Bentonite
PubMed: 37786335
DOI: 10.1039/d3em00327b -
Chemical Senses Jan 2024Although studies have shown that olfaction may contribute to the perception of tastant, literature is scarce or circumstantial, especially in humans. This study aims to...
Although studies have shown that olfaction may contribute to the perception of tastant, literature is scarce or circumstantial, especially in humans. This study aims to (i) explore whether humans can perceive solutions of basic prototypical tastants through orthonasal and retronasal olfaction and (ii) to examine what volatile odor compounds (VOCs) underlie this ability. Solutions of 5 basic tastants (sucrose, sodium chloride, citric acid, monosodium glutamate [MSG], quinine) dissolved in water, and 2 fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acid) dissolved in mineral oil were prepared. Triangle discrimination tests were performed (n = 41 in duplicate) to assess whether the tastant solutions can be distinguished from blanks (solvents) through ortho- and retronasal olfaction. Participants were able to distinguish all tastant solutions from blank through orthonasal olfaction. Only sucrose, sodium chloride, oleic acid, and linoleic acid were distinguished from blank by retronasal olfaction. Ethyl dichloroacetate, methylene chloride, and/or acetone were identified in the headspace of sucrose, MSG, and quinine solutions but not in the headspace of water, sodium chloride, and citric acid solutions. Fat oxidation compounds such as alcohols and aldehydes were detected in the headspace of the oleic and linoleic acid solutions but not the mineral oil. We conclude that prototypical tastant solutions can be discriminated from water and fatty acid solutions from mineral oil through orthonasal olfaction. Differences in the volatile headspace composition between blanks and tastant solutions may have facilitated the olfactory discrimination. These findings can have methodological implications for future studies assessing gustatory perception using these prototypical taste compounds.
Topics: Humans; Smell; Sodium Chloride; Sodium Glutamate; Quinine; Mineral Oil; Taste; Water; Sucrose; Citric Acid; Linoleic Acids
PubMed: 38175732
DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjad054 -
JMIR Dermatology Nov 2023Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that presents with symptoms of intense pruritus, dryness, and erythema.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that presents with symptoms of intense pruritus, dryness, and erythema. Dissatisfaction with first-line therapies for AD, the desire to avoid steroids, and the extreme cost of effective biologics have created a demand for alternative treatment options such as oral vitamins and nutritional supplements.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review was to assess the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements, pre- and probiotics, and vitamin deficiencies and supplements on AD symptomology and clinical course.
METHODS
We searched Scopus, PubMed, and MEDLINE (Ovid interface) for English-language articles published between 1993 and 2023. The final search was conducted on June 22, 2023. The search terms comprised the following: "(Atopic Dermatitis or Atopic Eczema) AND (supplement OR vitamin OR mineral OR micronutrients OR Fish Oil OR Omega Fatty Acid OR Probiotics OR Prebiotics OR apple cider vinegar OR collagen OR herbal OR fiber)."
RESULTS
A total of 18 studies-3 (17%) evaluating vitamins, 4 (22%) evaluating herbal medicine compounds, 2 (11%) evaluating single-ingredient nutritional supplements, and 9 (50%) evaluating pre- and probiotics-involving 881 patients were included in this review.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, there is weak evidence to support any one nutritional supplement intervention for the alleviation of AD symptoms. Multiple trials (4/18, 22%) showed promise for supplements such as Zemaphyte, kefir, and freeze-dried whey with Cuscuta campestris Yuncker extract. The most evidence was found on the effectiveness of probiotics on the clinical course of AD. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, and Lactobacillus acidophilus specifically showed evidence of efficacy and safety across multiple studies (6/18, 33%). However, larger, more extensive randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the true effectiveness of these supplements on the broader population.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
PROSPERO CRD42023470596; https://tinyurl.com/4a9477u7.
PubMed: 38019566
DOI: 10.2196/40857 -
Internal Medicine Journal Dec 2023The cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (O3FA) remain a point of confusion in clinical medicine. Recently two large, randomised trials were... (Review)
Review
The cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (O3FA) remain a point of confusion in clinical medicine. Recently two large, randomised trials were published with discordant findings regarding the overall benefits of omega-3 supplementation, resulting in unnecessary confusion and therapeutic nihilism. Epidemiological studies clearly show high intake of fish and measured O3FA (mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) in tissues are inversely associated with cardiovascular events and total mortality. These fatty acids are 'essential' and depend almost entirely on intake with very little production from within the body. The efficacy of supplementation depends on background tissue levels, in contradistinction to drug therapy. Insufficient dosing of omega-3 supplementation using less than 1 g/day and lack of titration to target by failing to measure O3FA levels in the blood may explain these conflicting trial outcomes. We review the current evidence regarding O3FA supplementation and cardiovascular outcomes, describe possible reasons for the discrepant results in the literature including recent controversial data around the mineral oil comparator used in REDUCE-IT and discuss the potential use of the omega-3 index to guide management and optimise supplementation in those at greatest risk.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dietary Supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38105550
DOI: 10.1111/imj.16283 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Sep 2023Mineral oils are used in substantial quantities for the production of varnishes and inks due to their abundance and versatility. However, as part of the production...
Mineral oils are used in substantial quantities for the production of varnishes and inks due to their abundance and versatility. However, as part of the production process, some of mineral oil components are separated as waste material, whereupon they can mix with air, water, or soil and become potentially harmful to the environment. Almost all these waste materials are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals that can easily evaporate at room temperature and have toxic effect. Therefore, a novel green, mineral oil-free offset printing ink was produced using vegetable oil esters as bio-renewable raw materials. Accompanying varnishes were prepared with linseed oil, methyl oleate, octyl stearate, and four types of resin (A, B, C, and D). The application of these varnishes to magenta color offset ink was subsequently studied to screen out the best combination of resin and ester in terms of setting time. Meanwhile, dyeing force tests were conducted to evaluate the ink's printability, while rheological analysis was done via viscosity and flowability tests. The setting time of the magenta color offset ink made by varnish A was observed to be considerably shorter than that of the ink samples prepared using varnishes B, C, and D. Furthermore, varnish A proved to be a good alternative varnish for the production of yellow, cyan, and black color offset printing inks. Samples of these inks were printed on coated paper, and their printability was contrasted against that of vegetable oil-based (pure vegetable oil), mineral oil-based, and other mineral oil-free offset printing inks. Results determined that the varnishes produced with linseed oil, methyl oleate, and octyl stearate can replace mineral oil-based varnishes for the production of offset printing ink.
Topics: Esters; Ink; Linseed Oil; Mineral Oil; Minerals; Plant Oils; Resins, Plant; Rosaniline Dyes
PubMed: 37594716
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29309-8 -
Food and Chemical Toxicology : An... Jul 2023Humans are daily exposed to mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) from the diet. We exposed female Fischer 344 rats to a broad mixture and sub-fractions of MOSH....
Humans are daily exposed to mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) from the diet. We exposed female Fischer 344 rats to a broad mixture and sub-fractions of MOSH. Chemical characterization of the MOSH mixture used and material accumulated in rat tissues were previously reported (Barp et al. 2017a, 2017b). Rats were exposed to feed containing 0-4000 mg/kg broad MOSH mixture for 30, 60, 90 and 120 days; and for 120 days to feed containing different MOSH fractions: i) mainly molecular masses < C25 (S-C25), ii) dewaxed, mainly molecular masses > C25 (L-C25) and iii) the L-C25 fraction mixed with wax largely consisting of n-alkanes > C25 (L-C25W). Treatments related effects were increased liver and spleen weight, as well as vacuolization and granuloma formation with lymphoid cell clusters in the liver, but effects varied strongly between the MOSH fractions tested. We conclude that increased liver and spleen weights were related to accumulated n-alkanes (wax) above C25, presumably not relevant for humans, but also to MOSH from S-C25, mainly consisting of iso-alkanes and substituted cycloalkanes below C25 with a small proportion of n-alkanes. Induction of liver granuloma appeared to be related to n-alkanes > C25 and not to the accumulated amount of MOSH. Immune responses to an injected antigen were not affected. Iso-alkanes and substituted cycloalkanes accumulating in rat liver and spleen were similar to those accumulating in humans.
PubMed: 37262937
DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113847