Vitamin D fortification of selected edible insect species through UVB-treatment.

Edible insects are attracting increased interest worldwide, because they are arguably more sustainable than more established animal foods. Apart from being rich in protein and minerals, they can also form vitamin D3 after treatment with UVB light (290-315 nm). However, only limited research, which has almost exclusively been conducted on living insects, reared under UVB lamps, has been done in this regard. As research on mushrooms has shown, that vitamin D formation is much more effective and less time consuming, when a previously sliced or ground product is treated with UVB light, it would likely be more practical to treat powdered insects with UVB light, rather than rearing them under UVB lamps. Therefore, the aim of this work was to confirm the presence of vitamin D3 in powdered UVB-treated yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria) and two-spotted crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus) as well as to subsequently quantify potential vitamin D content. Samples were analyzed via HPLC, and presence of vitamin D3 was verified via standard addition and spectrum analysis. UVB-treated migratory locusts and two-spotted crickets did not contain quantifiable amounts of vitamin D3. However, UVB-treated mealworms showed substantial amounts of vitamin D3 (8.95-18.24 µg/g dry matter). Thus, the UVB-treatment of powdered mealworm is an effective approach via which to enhance their vitamin D3 content and even modest serving sizes can supply the recommended daily intake of vitamin D.

Impact of the natural resource of UVB on the content of vitamin D2 in oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) under subtropical settings.

Vitamin D deficiency is a pandemic problem. Non-animal source of vitamin D is obtained from edible mushrooms. Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) was sliced into the size of 1 cm3, 4 cm3 and 9 cm3, and treated with the sun as a natural resource of UVB under subtropical settings in Ethiopia. The content of vitamin D was measured by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After sun treatment, there was a significant increment in the content of vitamin D2 from nil to 67.4 ±â€¯28.0 µg/g dry weight (DW). Based on the results of the overall pairwise comparisons, 1 cm3 size of slice group had the highest content of vitamin D2. Duration of sun exposure, sizes of mushroom slices and moisture content were identified as determining factors for vitamin D2 synthesis. Exposing slices of oyster mushroom to the sunlight for <30 min provides the amount that satisfies the current recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin D without any visible change in color and texture. Thus, sun treatment of oyster mushroom is an effective and economically cheap strategy in the fight against vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiencies among tuberculosis patients in Africa: A systematic review.

The aim of this study was to explore the existence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) in tuberculosis (TB) patients living in Africa and to identify its predictor variables. PRISMA guidelines and checklists were used. The sources of the data were Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. We identified 23 articles, of which 15 reported the status of vitamin D in TB with TB. The definition of serum vitamin D status was summarized as severe, deficient, and insufficient when the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin (OH)-D ≤25, ≤50, and ≤75 nmol/L, respectively. The reports showed that up to 88.9% and 96.3% of patients with TB tested by radioimmunoassay had VDD and vitamin D insufficiency, respectively. Statistically significant variables such as lack of sun exposure, inadequate dietary intake, season, clothing, comorbidities, low body mass index, age, skin pigmentation, use of antiretroviral therapy and anti-TB drugs, and socioeconomic status were identified as the main predictor variables of vitamin D status. VDD and vitamin D insufficiency were highly prevalent in TB patients in Africa. Further case-control studies are warranted to clarify the cause-effect relationship between vitamin D and TB and thereby, design valuable strategies to manage VDD among TB patients in Africa.