Abstract
As the popularity of tropical fruits has been increasing consistently during the last few decades, nutritional and health-related data about these fruits have been gaining more and more interest. Therefore, we analyzed 35 samples of tropical fruits and vegetables with respect to folate content and vitamer distribution in this study. The fruits and vegetables were selected by their availability in German supermarkets and were grouped according to their plant family. All fruits and vegetables were lyophilized and analyzed by stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA) and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results vary from 7.82 ± 0.17 µg/100 g in the horned melon to 271 ± 3.64 µg/100 g in the yellow passion fruit. The yellow passion fruit is a good source for meeting the recommended requirements, as just 110 g are needed to cover the recommended daily intake of 300 µg folate for adults; however, longan fruits, okras, pete beans, papayas, mangos, jack fruits, and feijoas are also good sources of folates. In conclusion, the study gives a good overview of the total folate content in a broad range of tropical fruits and vegetables and shows that some of these fruits definitely have the potential to improve the supply of this critical vitamin.
Highlights
Tropical or exotic fruits are usually known as fruits which grow in tropical or subtropical climates [1]
Among them various fruits and several vegetables, were analyzed for their total folate content and vitamer profiles based on fresh weight
The USDA specifies a total folate content for jack fruit of 24.0 μg/100 g and, we found a considerably higher folate content [27]
Summary
Tropical or exotic fruits are usually known as fruits which grow in tropical or subtropical climates [1]. Besides well-known fruits such as banana, kiwi, or pineapple, which have been available in supermarkets all over the world for quite some time, more and more tropical fruits have become increasingly popular in recent years [2] These tropical fruits include for example pitaya, mango, and jack fruit [3,4]. Their popularity is mainly due to the diversity of fruits regarding the exotic taste and smell and unusual shape and colors Optimized transport systems such as insulated and refrigerated containers ensure the optimum temperature for the tropical fruits during long journeys or daily flights, guaranteeing a short transport time and facilitating exportation worldwide [4,5]. With respect to the influence of different environmental factors, such as
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