Review on the extraction of calcium supplements from eggshells to combat waste generation and chronic calcium deficiency

When faced with a plethora of issues, the possibility of one problem becoming the solution of another is a rare, yet beneficial scenario. This report explores the prospect of viewing the accumulation of organic waste matter in India as a potential calcium reservoir to relieve the issue of calcium deficiency in the population. Waste generation has seen gradual growth, and it has created a problem of waste disposal. A large segment of the generated waste primarily consists of food waste which contains significant amounts of nutrients. Food waste such as eggshells, waste from shellfish, bones, and fish scales contain good amounts of bioavailable calcium, and large quantities of this discarded bioavailable calcium remain unused. Global studies show India to have significantly lower levels of calcium intake than the global average, thus increasing the risk of calcium deficiency-related diseases. Furthermore, research shows that for over the past half of the century, the intake of dietary calcium has declined drastically throughout India. This has led to chronic calcium deficiency-related diseases throughout most of the Indian population. Hence, development of calcium supplements from calcium-rich waste material has the potential to not only reduce the strain on waste management, but also to provide the calcium-deficient population with a cheaper alternative to traditional supplements. Owing to the abundance and ease of separation, eggshells have been chosen as the focus of the review. This review highlights and compares their extraction methods of providing cheap calcium supplements while reducing the amount of eggshell waste.

CPP-ACP Promotes SnF2 Efficacy in a Polymicrobial Caries Model

Dental caries is associated with plaque dysbiosis, leading to an increase in the proportions of acidogenic and aciduric bacteria at the expense of alkali-generating commensal species. Stannous fluoride (SnF2) slows the progression of caries by remineralization of early lesions but has also been suggested to inhibit glycolysis of aciduric bacteria. Casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) promotes fluoride remineralization by acting as a salivary biomimetic that releases bioavailable calcium and phosphate ions, and the peptide complex has also been suggested to modify plaque composition. We developed a polymicrobial biofilm model of caries using 6 bacterial species representative of supragingival plaque that were cultured on sound human enamel and pulsed with sucrose 4 times a day to produce a high cariogenic challenge. We used this model to explore the mechanisms of action of SnF2 and CPP-ACP. Bacterial species in the biofilms were enumerated with 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, and mineral loss and lesion formation were determined in the enamel directly under the polymicrobial biofilms via transverse microradiography. The model tested the twice-daily addition of SnF2, CPP-ACP, or both. SnF2 treatment reduced demineralization by 50% and had a slight effect on the composition of the polymicrobial biofilm. CPP-ACP treatment caused a similar inhibition of enamel demineralization (50%), a decrease in Actinomyces naeslundii and Lactobacillus casei abundance, and an increase in Streptococcus sanguinis and Fusobacterium nucleatum abundance in the polymicrobial biofilm. A combination of SnF2 and CPP-ACP resulted in a greater suppression of the acidogenic and aciduric bacteria and a significant 72% inhibition of enamel demineralization.

Anticariogenicity of Casein Phosphopeptide-amorphous Calcium Phosphate: A Review of the Literature

Aim This review of the literature examines the role of the natural components of saliva in maintaining tooth mineralization and the role of different casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate-based (CPP-ACP) compounds in controlling demineralization/ remineralization and their clinical applications. Background A group of peptides, known as CPP, have been shown to stabilize calcium and phosphate preserving them in an amorphous or soluble form known as amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). Calcium and phosphate are essential components of enamel and dentine and form highly insoluble complexes, but in the presence of CPP they remain soluble and biologically available. This CPP-ACP complex applied to teeth by means of chewing-gum, toothpaste, lozenges, mouth rinses, or sprays is able to adhere to the dental biofilm and enamel hydroxyapatite providing bioavailable calcium and phosphate ions. Review Results Significantly high levels of calcium and phosphate have been found in both biofilm and subsurface incipient caries lesions and in lower level demineralization of enamel or dentine surfaces previously treated with CPP-ACP based compounds. When placed on the surface of a tooth with early carious lesions, pastes with CPP-ACP complexes can prevent tooth demineralization and improve enamel remineralization and enhance fluoride activity. Conclusion Remineralization of white spot lesions has been achieved clinically by applying pastes based on these compounds, and a similar effect to self-applied fluorides has been observed in reducing the appearance of new caries lesions in patients with xerostomia. Clinical Significance Use of CPP-ACP based compounds offers a potential for use in the prevention of dental caries. Citation Llena C, Forner L, Baca P. Anticariogenicity of Casein Phosphopeptide-amorphous Calcium Phosphate: A Review of the Literature. J Contemp Dent Pract 2009 May; (10)3:001-009.