Regional Cattle Ketosis and Human CHD Explained by Similar Geographic Factors Associated with Weathering

The sum of weathered/liberated Ca and Mg has been used
as a measure for estimation of consumption of atmospheric...


Introduction
The sum of weathered/liberated Ca and Mg has been used as a measure for estimation of consumption of atmospheric CO 2 [1]: "… only the weathering of Ca and Mg silicates is important for the global C cycle…". Weathering of silicates consumes CO 2 [1] and produces HCO 3 -and silicic acid [2], i.e. orthosilicic acid [Si(OH) 4 ] [3] and cations: K, Mg [4] and Ca [1]. Example "typically occurs in dairy cows in early lactation and is most consistently characterized by partial anorexia and depression" [5].
"The pathogenesis of bovine ketosis is incompletely understood, but it requires the combination of intense adipose mobilization and a high glucose demand. Both of these conditions are present in early lactation" [5].

Materials and Methods
Map and label numbers of Finnish Provinces are from [8], but they are put to the same order as respective RC's in [6,7]: (08 Kuopio before 07 North Karelia and 03 Åland as the last province). Periods are represented by their two last numbers, e.g. (79-93) for 1973-93). Number of dairy cows (cows) for December 1983, as a measure of cattle, are readily by provinces from [9]. Provincial data for May 1995 are formed, if needed, by combining data of Rural Business Districts (labeled as Rural Centers) [10] as follows: 02 Turku and Pori (= Turun+Satakunnan), 04 Häme (= Hämeen+Pirkanmaan), 10 Vaasan (= E-Pohjanm. + "Vaasan" + 2/3*K-Pohjanm.), 11 Oulun (= 1/3*K-Pohjanm.+Oulun+Kainuun). Other data was readily given, e.g. Åland. Data of December 1983 was adjusted to June 1983 (nearer, but not just to May 1983) by multiplying the provincial numbers from December 1983 [9,10] by 1.046, i.e. the ratio of total number (thousands) of dairy cows in May 1983 [11] (663.1) and December 1983 (634.2) [9]. Total number of dairy cows for 1979 is from [12], for 1980-1996 from [11]. Provincial cow number estimates for other than 1983 and 1995 are attained after that by linear interpolation by total cow number [11,12]. Total number of cows was reduced by 46 % during the study period (Table 1).  [13] as HMg and HCa in [9]. Given numbers of (94-96) are readily divided by 12, so all numbers in (             gw is produced from two sources: carbonates and silicates [18], and moderately high pH obviously has reduced Si.gw content [6]. Carbonates indicate soil-type juvenility (and non-podsol soil-types) [19], (i.e. better weatherability). High sum of cations suggests on sustaining factor(s), silicates, or clay material [20].    [(Mg/Ca).gw] has explained significantly inversely M.CHD in continental Finland in several studies, as in [17]. But [Mg/Ca). soil], which has been thought to be the influential factor, generally explained CHD remarkably more weakly, or not at all [19]. In north Finland, including 22 % of Finnish cultivated soil [6] and 25 % soil samples [16], (Mg/Ca) of soil did not comply with (Mg/Ca).gw, but in whole Finland gw and soil (Mg/Ca) explained significantly (p = 0.006) each other, calculated by data in [17]. Provincial [(Mg/Ca). gw] value of Åland, based only on six samples [15], could be rejected, because of statistical reasons, but it complies with cropland (Mg/ Ca), based on 4,200 soil samples [16,[17][18][19][20][21]. (Mg/Ca) gw and soil got their lowest provincial value in Åland, where the CHD mortality of middle-aged men was the lowest (every year) between 1964 and 1984 [14]. On the other side the HCl-soluble Mg reserves can be the highest in carbonate soils [22]. Anyhow Finnish provincial (Mg/Ca) of timothy has been the lowest in Åland [23], which suggests that high Mg availability cannot explain the low CHD mortality in Åland. indicates not only on soil-type, but the same time on soil content of clay material [21].
Temperature (here latitude) can promote soil weathering (and production of Si(OH)4 and Mg, Ca and K cations [1][2][3][4]). This explains, why in (Figure 2) [Lat.cap] fortified the explanation of Si.gw by (Mg/Ca).gw. (Figure 2) suggests that high Si.gw of Vaasa could be based on statistical bias, as by Ostrobotnia, included in Vaasa [17] or soil pH [6]. Possible explanation, why (Ca+Mg) is a better measure for weathering [1] than (Mg/Ca), is that Si(OH)4 and cations can be produced not only from clay material, but even from such granite components, which produce cations in different proportions to clay [24]. Latitude and longitude increased both Keto and CHD risk. (Table 7) So (Ca+Mg).gw can be included to "east risk factors". (It was more strongly associated with longitude than (Ca+Mg).soil. This can be calculated e.g. data in [6]) Combined regression by [Lat.cap;Long. cap] explained CHD better than the gw factors. Both Keto series associated stronger with latitude than with longitude, oppositely to CHD. Latitude is associated with shorter pasture period and shorter period to get fresh grass and with less effective weathering (temperature dependent). Longitude is associated with soil age: period open for weathering and erosion (erosion = weathering + transport), additionally associated with altitude and higher number of rainy days [25] and so obviously with lower level in vitamin D synthesis in the skin.
Explanation for rainy days is the higher altitude in the eastern regions [25]. Earth elevation in the western Finland has been ca 250 m during the last 9,000 yrs [26]. Earth elevation moved the southern coast northwards, so that elevation was not purely east-west   [1] is an underestimation because coarse soil fragments, including stones, have a much higher short term impact on nutrient input than previously thought based on weathering rates, [27].
Obviously, inorganic soil tests results can be used only as (lower) estimates of weathering. The biological function of soil (or its potential) seems to be underestimated. In cattle ketosis low grade inflammation and problems in intestinal integrity (so called "leaky gut") is believed to be the source of LPS infiltration and cause of systemic inflammation [28]. I.e. in cattle Ketosis structural factors and inflammation can be associated with silicon as in atherosclerosis of humans [29]. Anyhow veterinary surgeon Haaranen wrote that in the prophylaxis and treatment of cattle Ketosis the "only healthy procedure for reinforcement/supply of blood sugar is to guide fermentation in rumen to produce more propionic acid and reduce formation of acetic acid so that their proportions would be 1:1 [30]. He wrote that traditionally farmers had given Ketose cows moldy hay (which cows eagerly ate [30]) and that after rainy summers 1954, 1962, 1967 and 1974 incidence of cattle ketoses was unusually low. (Haaranen wrote that these observations on moldy hays are not yet given as a recommendation," before studies have given more knowledge on bacterium-mold ratios in soil, plant, fodder and rumen, as well as on fermentation processes in rumen" [30]). In 1974 was discovered in USA, that moldy hay contains monensin, produced by a mold Streptomyces cinnamonensis, which can increase relatively propionic acid production by 50 % [30]. Monensin is not available in all countries [5].
On the other hand, via changes in fodder quality and delivery, cattle Ketosis is nearly totally disappeared until today in Finland [31]. Remarkable was the low Keto during both periods in Northern Karelia (e.g. Figures 3 & 4), (caused by monensin?).
Open question has been the low CHD mortality in Åland, which is associated with highest provincial (Ca+Mg).gw and lowest (gw and) cropland (Mg/Ca) in Finland [17]. Earlier (2018)  October (Åland) [32,33]. This year, between April 21 and Sept 3, where Si.gw, (Ca+Mg).gw and (Mg/Ca).gw were remarkably higher than the regional mean of the whole country. Anyhow area of milk collection included several regions, why these associations cannot be benefited as such (or not at all) in conclusions. 40 % of the results were below the detection threshold. "<2" ppm. After replacing "<2" by 1, the whole country mean of acid soluble Si of semi-skimmed milk was 1.9 (+/-0.86) ppm, no clear differences was found between continental (1.9 +/-0.83) and Åland (1.9 +/-0.94) values nor caused by agricultural practices (organic or conventional).
(Benefiting of silicate amendments seems not to be a standard routine in organic nor conventional agriculture). The analyze method was checked by Eurofins: no differences were found between analyze methods of 2018 and 2020 [32]. The difference between 2018 and 2020 could obviously be explained by the very dry and hot weather in summer 2018: The temperature was 2.1 °C above the normal and rainfall (precipitation) 46 % below the normal [34]. Low precipitation affected especially the west Finland as Åland ("rainfall was unusually low in the western half of the country" [35]. The author was reported that the yield of crops in Åland was only about 50 % from normal. These could have caused increased weathering via the elevated temperature and need of plants to take water and nutrients from groundwater and deeper soil layers than usually. Although the Si values in 2018 were ca 50 times higher than in 2020, they were related with each other as Australian wheat (500 -5,000 ppm) to Finnish wheat (50 -100 ppm) [33,36]. Results from 2018 and 2010 together: 1) Temperature can effect on Si content of milk (and plants) as suggested in [33]. 2) Si content of milk and other food in Åland can be, independent of lower Si.gw value as high as (or higher than) in continental Finland.
More accurate determination of geographic milk origin (or farm related samples contra mean dairy samples), history of agricultural practices and silicate supplementation, soil-type distribution, and temperature during 1-3 days before sampling are needed in the further studies. Acid-soluble and water-soluble Si are suggested to be analyzed separately, coincidentally.
Benefits of weathering are associated with mineral elements existing in or supplemented to the croplands. Active weathering can release besides of Si even tin (Sn). Both of them have geographic associations with CHD, musculoskeletal diseases, and chemical associations with mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans, GAG) [29].

Conclusion
Regional CHD and Keto.(94-96) associated significantly with each other and factors associated with soil weathering. Milk Si can be associated with local weathering rate of silicates and is suggested to become one candidate for the measures of farm relating CO2 consumption.