The major restraint to the global Lithopone market is the availability of numerous white pigment substitutes. It can be replaced by other inorganic white pigments such as Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and Sachtolith. Among these substitutes, the introduction of TiO2 has reduced the commercial importance of Lithopone white pigment. Compared to other white pigments, TiO2 has high brightness and refractive index, which results in lower pigment loading.
For a mini-review published in the journal Particle and Fibre Technology in 2021, scientists wanted to evaluate whether Ti02 particles contributed to the development and/or exacerbation of irritable bowel disease, and whether they altered the four elements of intestinal barrier function: the intestinal microbiota, the immune system, the mucus layer, and the epithelium. The breakdown of these four elements can contribute to autoimmune, neurological, inflammatory, infectious, and metabolic diseases. Following their review, the researchers concluded: “Data indicate that TiO2 is able to alter the four compartments of IBF and to induce a low-grade intestinal inflammation associated or not with pre-neoplastic lesions.”
Macromolecular oxidation was detected in proteins by the colorimetric measurement of Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPP) and in lipids by the colorimetric quantification of malondialdehyde (MDA). Standard curves were run with chloramine-T and 1,1,3,3 tetraethoxypropane (TEP) for AOPP and MDA methods, respectively [29], [30], [31]. Values were normalized to initial protein content in samples, measured with Bradford reagent [32]. The standard deviation of at least six measures was calculated and p-value < 0.05 were considered significant.