Biofortification of Food with Microelements

Abstract

Problem statement: Recently a particular attention was paid to the issue of microelement hunger, also termed hidden hunger. The problem was of global significance, since was related with the public health and concerns over 2 billion people. Approach: The study discusses the state of the art in the research on food biofortification as the sustainable solution to cope with micronutrient deficiencies. Enrichment of food with microelements seems to be the rational method of preventive, not interventionist character. Consuming such food should reduce the intake of mineral supplements containing inorganic salts, whereby microelements posses low bioavailability. Different methods of increasing the density of microelements in food of plant and animal origin (agronomic and biotechnological) are discussed. Results and Conclusion: Using microelements introduced with either fertilizers or feeds in the form which is highly bioavailable should yield plant and animal products containing higher levels of these constituents. Introducing microelements bound to a biomass which serves as a biological carrier is possible by means of the process of biosorption. The method is widely discussed in the literature as wastewater treatment process in which metal cations are removed from effluents and bound with the biomass by postulated ion exchange mechanism. The same process can be used to enrich the biomass with metal cations of nutritional significance. Studies on laying hens fed with new feed additives produced by biosorption yielded higher densities of Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu in eggs content, as compared with the control group which was fed with diet containing inorganic form of microelements.

Studying the accumulation of nitrogenous substances in biofortified pumpkin vegetables

“…If this is neglected, the deficiency of vital compounds will lead to permanent physical and mental fatigue, increase in the number of deaths from infectious and chronic diseases, as well as neonatal malformations [6]. The lack of essential nutrients has become global because it directly affects 2 billion people [7,8]. Biofortification must resolve the problems of a particular geographic area and become more profitable so that it might make alternative to commercial fortification and be a successful component of national nutrition strategies [9].…”

“…The advantages of the biofortification strategy (that involves fertilization) include easy implementation, low cost of each interference, and quick effect. The factors that complicate this process include methods of production, the effect of the soil composition and properties on the absorption of target elements by the plant, as well as the mobility and location of minerals' accumulation in the plant [7]. Despite the shortcomings, this strategy is often recommended by researchers from many countries for obtaining biofortified crops with high concentrations of micronutrients.…”