Abstract
Diets very rich in cereals have been associated with micronutrient malnutrition, and the biofortification of them, has been proposed as one of the best approaches to alleviate the problem. Durum wheat is one of the main sources of calories and protein in many developing countries. In this study, 46 durum varieties grown under full and reduced irrigation, were analyzed for micronutrients and phytate content to determine the potential bioavailability of the micronutrients. The variation was 25.7–40.5mg/kg for iron and of 24.8–48.8mg/kg for zinc. For phytate determination (0.462–0.952 %), a modified methodology was validated in order to reduce testing costs while speeding up testing time. Variation was detected for phytate:iron and zinc molar ratios (12.1–29.6 and 16.9–23.6, respectively). The results could be useful to generate varieties with appropriate levels of phytate and micronutrients, which can lead to the development of varieties rich in micronutrients to overcome malnutrition.
Highlights
Malnutrition is a major challenge worldwide and the number of chronically undernourished and malnourished people has been rising (FAO, 2016)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2002), zinc (Zn) deficiency ranks 11th among the 20 most important risk factors contributing to the burden of disease in the world and 5th among the 10 most important factors in developing countries, while iron (Fe) deficiency ranks 6th
Zinc deficiency is responsible for many severe health complications, including impairments relating to physical growth, the immune system and learning abilities, as well as an increased risk of infections, DNA damage and cancer development (Gibson, 2006)
Summary
Malnutrition is a major challenge worldwide and the number of chronically undernourished and malnourished people has been rising (FAO, 2016). Almost 30% of the world population suffers from some form of malnutrition and of these, more than 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, of which 52% are pregnant women and 39% are children under five years of age (FAO, 2016). Zinc deficiency is responsible for many severe health complications, including impairments relating to physical growth, the immune system and learning abilities, as well as an increased risk of infections, DNA damage and cancer development (Gibson, 2006). Fe deficiency is the most common cause of anemia globally.
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