Ferroptosis, which has been widely associated with many diseases, is an iron-dependent regulated cell death characterized by intracellular lipid peroxide accumulation. It exhibits morphological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics that are unique in comparison to other types of cell death. The course of ferroptosis can be accurately regulated by the metabolism of iron, lipids, amino acids, and various signal pathways. In this review, we summarize the basic characteristics of ferroptosis, its regulation, as well as the relationship between ferroptosis and chronic diseases such as cancer, nervous system diseases, metabolic diseases, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Finally, we describe the regulatory effects of food-borne active ingredients on ferroptosis.

Millet is a major drought-resistant crop that serves as a nutrient rich food staple in Africa and Asia. In addition, millet contains an abundance of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity. The intake of antioxidants through the diet is essential for improving human health. This review aimed to evaluate the antioxidant compounds in millet, as well as the factors that influence antioxidant activity. The Millet contained several natural occurring phenolic compounds which include phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins, in addition to xylo-oligosaccharides (XOs), insoluble fibers and peptides. Certain lipophilic antioxidants, including vitamin E and carotenoids, were extensively distributed among varieties. Furthermore, the bioactivity of the antioxidants can be affected by food processing. Germination and fermentation could enhance the antioxidant properties, due to increased antioxidants content (phenolic compounds). In summary, it is possible to use millet as a nutraceutical and antioxidant food resource to reduce disease risks and maintain health.

In recent years, the problem of food adulteration has become increasingly rampant, seriously hindering the development of food production, consumption, and management. The common analytical methods used to determine food authenticity present challenges, such as complicated analysis processes and time-consuming procedures, necessitating the development of rapid, efficient analysis technology for food authentication. Spectroscopic techniques, ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS), electronic sensors, and DNA-based technology have gradually been applied for food authentication due to advantages such as rapid analysis and simple operation. This paper summarizes the current research on rapid food authenticity analysis technology from three perspectives, including breeds or species determination, quality fraud detection, and geographical origin identification, and introduces chemometrics method adapted to rapid analysis techniques. It aims to promote the development of rapid analysis technology in the food authenticity field.

Background/Objectives: Selenium is indispensable for human health, yet vast regions worldwide grapple with selenium-deficient soils, rendering dietary intake a critical avenue for supplementation. This narrative review aims to systematically examine and compare domestic and international regulations and standards related to selenium enrichment, providing insights to enhance regulatory frameworks and standardization within the selenium-enrichment industry. Methods: From June to September 2024, we conducted a comprehensive search of official websites belonging to international organizations (e.g., Codex Alimentarius Commission, European Union) and governmental agencies of countries such as China and the United States. Keywords, like “selenium enrichment”, “selenium standards”, and “selenium detection methods”, were employed to identify pertinent regulations, standards, and guidelines encompassing intake benchmarks, detection methodologies, product specifications, technical guidelines for production, labeling requirements, and certification management norms. Results: Our analysis reveals several challenges within the current selenium-enriched regulatory and standardization systems, including inconsistent product determination criteria and limit settings, incomplete technical guidelines for selenium-enriched agricultural production, and a lack of unified regulations for labeling selenium-enriched agricultural products. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for harmonization of standards and enhanced regulatory oversight. To address these issues, we recommend bolstering safety risk assessments for selenium-enriched agricultural products, establishing and refining a comprehensive standard system for selenium-enriched agriculture, and intensifying quality and safety supervision. This study offers a valuable reference for policymakers and stakeholders to promote the sustainable development of the selenium-enrichment industry.

This study investigated the functional, physicochemical, and structural characteristics of foxtail millet bran powder with different particle sizes. The morphological analysis revealed that the surface roughness declined in conjunction with the particle sizes of the millet bran powder. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra showed that none of the samples generated any additional chemical functional groups. A decrease in the particle sizes of the millet bran powder increased their dissemination and surface areas, as well as the bulk density, tap density, water-holding capacity (WHC), angle of repose (θ) and angle of slide (α), and peak temperature, while the oil holding capacity (OHC) and crystallinity index (CI) value declined. Moreover, fine millet bran powder (54.7 μm) exhibited a higher protein, fat, soluble dietary fiber (SDF), total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity than its coarse counterpart.

In this study, 41 common rice varieties and 211 selenium-rich rice varieties from ten representative areas in China were collected in 2017–2019. The selenium contents of rice were analyzed with optimized inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Selenium concentrations of common rice and selenium-rich rice ranges were 0.81–7.26 and 0.76–180.73 µg/100 g, respectively. The selenium contents in selenium-rich rice from different areas were significantly different (p < 0.001) while those in common rice from different areas were not. The selenium-rich rice in Harbin and Keshan showed the lowest selenium level and those from selenium-rich areas (Enshi and Ankang) were highest. Based on the estimation of the risk assessment software @risk7.0 (Palisade Corporation, New York, NY, USA), the consumption of selenium-rich rice can effectively increase dietary selenium intake for the population. However, the risk index of P95 (Percentile 95) selenium exposure at the tolerable upper intake level for children at 2–14 years old exceeded 100%, with potential risk currently. Therefore, the consumption of selenium-rich rice should be properly monitored for young children and adolescents.