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Open AccessArticle

Elemental Profile and Health Risk of Fruška Gora Wines

by Ljilja Torović, Danijela Lukić, Tatjana Majkić and Ivana Beara

Foods 2023, 12(15), 2848; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12152848 - 27 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2291

The elemental composition of wine is influenced by endogenous sources and interventions from winemakers. The ICP-MS analysis of Fruška Gora wines (113) from vintages spanning across a decade (2011–2020), produced by 30 wineries and representing 18 autochthonous and international wine varieties, allowed a comprehensive insight into their elemental composition. Based on the mean concentrations of 23 investigated elements, B, Fe, and Mn, which were determined in mg per L of wine regardless of its colour or origin, were the most abundant. Red and white wines showed significant concentration differences in the case of B, Mn, and Sr (higher in red) as well as Be, Al, V, As, Mo, and Pb (higher in white). The elements of the highest toxicological concern were found in all (Pb and As) or almost all of the samples (Cd and Hg). Pb levels (maximum 47.1, 61.6, and 73.2 μg/L in red, rose, and white, respectively) were well below the legal limit. The applied risk assessment approaches (hazard quotient and index, margin of exposure) revealed no health concerns associated with consumption of Fruška Gora wines, except for a slightly increased lifetime cancer risk in the case of high wine consumption, and thus supported the promotion of Fruška Gora wines in the highly competitive international market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Risk Assessment and Control of Food Hazards)

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24 pages, 6915 KB

Open AccessArticle

Feeding-Regime-Dependent Intestinal Response of Rainbow Trout after Administration of a Novel Probiotic Feed

by Marek Ratvaj, Ivana Cingeľová Maruščáková, Peter Popelka, Adriána Fečkaninová, Jana Koščová, Natália Chomová, Jan Mareš, Ondřej Malý, Rudolf Žitňan, Martin Faldyna and Dagmar Mudroňová

Animals 2023, 13(12), 1892; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121892 - 6 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2223

Abstract

Intensive fish farming is associated with a high level of stress, causing immunosuppression. Immunomodulators of natural origin, such as probiotics or phytoadditives, represent a promising alternative for increasing the immune function of fish. In this study, we tested the autochthonous trout probiotic strain L. plantarum R2 in a newly developed, low-cost application form ensuring the rapid revitalization of bacteria. We tested continuous and cyclic feeding regimes with regard to their effect on the intestinal immune response and microbiota of rainbow trout. We found that during the continuous application of probiotic feed, the immune system adapts to the immunomodulator and there is no substantial stimulation of the intestinal immune response. During the cyclic treatment, after a 3-week break in probiotic feeding and the reintroduction of probiotics, there was a significant stimulation of the gene expression of molecules associated with both cellular and humoral immunity (CD8, TGF-β, IL8, TLR9), without affecting the gene expression for IL1 and TNF-α. We can conclude that, in aquaculture, this probiotic feed can be used with a continuous application, which does not cause excessive immunostimulation, or with a cyclic application, which provides the opportunity to stimulate the immunity of trout, for example, in periods of stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probiotics and Other Functional Feed Additives in Aquaculture)

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18 pages, 2372 KB

Open AccessArticle

Natural and Anthropogenic Sources of Cadmium in Cacao Crop Soils of Santander, Colombia

by Valentina Joya-Barrero, Carme Huguet and Jillian Pearse

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7010012 - 6 Feb 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5157

Abstract

Elevated cadmium (Cd) levels in cacao products have been detected in a major cacao-producing region of Colombia, with concentrations well above those permitted for export and posing a potential threat to human health. Geochemical and petrographic analyses of fertilizer, soil and rocks from three farms were used to determine the origin of Cd. Parent rocks were the main source of the Cd in soils, while organic fertilizer may have further contributed to elevated metal content in one farm. High Cd levels in the organic fertilizer were most likely due to bioaccumulation, since it was sourced from animals in the same area. Even though the soil pH range, elevated OM content and the presence of Mn and K diminish bioavailability, the extremely high Cd content in soils results nonetheless in significant uptake by the plants and subsequent accumulation in cocoa beans. Traditional methods to reduce Cd adsorption, such as the addition of calcium, will not be effective in this case. Instead, the selection of cacao species that are naturally low accumulators and amendment with soil microorganisms with mineralization and biotransformation capabilities, as well as testing of fertilizers before application, could all be cost-effective solutions to reduce Cd in the final product. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 1160 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Quality of Five Natural, Historical Italian Cheeses Produced in Different Months: Gross Composition, Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Fatty Acids, Total Phenols, Antioxidant Capacity, and Health Index

by Adriana Di Trana, Ambra Rita Di Rosa, Margherita Addis, Myriam Fiori, Antonino Di Grigoli, Valeria Maria Morittu, Anna Antonella Spina, Salvatore Claps, Vincenzo Chiofalo, Giuseppe Licitra and Massimo Todaro

Animals 2022, 12(2), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020199 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4059

Abstract

Five natural historic cheeses of Southern Italy were investigated—Caciocavallo Palermitano (CP), Casizolu del Montiferru (CdM), Vastedda della Valle del Belìce (VVB), Pecorino Siciliano (PS), and Caprino Nicastrese (CN)—which are produced with raw milk and with traditional techniques and tools, from autochthonous breeds reared under an extensive system. The effects of the month of production on gross composition, MUFA, PUFA, PUFA-ω6, PUFA-ω3, α-tocopherol, retinol, cholesterol, TPC, TEAC, and GHIC were evaluated. In CP, CLA, TPC, and GHIC were higher in April than in February. CdM showed higher values in terms of fat, saturated fatty acids, PUFA-ω3, α-tocopherol, TEAC, and GHIC in May than in February and September, while low values in terms of protein, moisture, and CLA were found. In VVB, MUFA, PUFA-ω6, and α-tocopherol increased in June compared with April; conversely, protein, FRAP, and TEAC were higher in April. In PS, protein, CLA, PUFA, PUFA-ω3, α-tocopherol, and GHIC increased in May compared with January; on the contrary, moisture, NaCl, and TEAC showed high values in January. CN showed higher values in terms of PUFA, PUFA-ω6, PUFA-ω3, TPC, TEAC, and GHIC in April and June compared with January. It is shown that each cheese is unique and closely linked to the production area. Cheeses produced in the spring months showed a high nutritional quality due to the greatest presence of healthy compounds originating from an extensive feeding system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality of Products from Ruminants in Extensive Production Systems)

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