Comparison between the mineral profile and nitrate content of microgreens and mature lettuces

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Edgar Pinto (Author) Other; Agostinho A Almeida (Author) FFUP; Ana A Aguiar (Author) FCUP; Isabel M P L V O Ferreira (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis

Vol. 37

Pages: 38-43

ISSN: 0889-1575

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 99 Citations

Scopus - 120 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Other Agrarian Sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-5J7

DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2014.06.018

Abstract (EN): Microgreens are a new class of edible vegetables harvested when seed-leaves have fully expanded and before true leaves have emerged. They are gaining increasing popularity as new culinary ingredients. However, no scientific data comparing the mineral content of microgreens and mature plants are available. Thus, the goal of this work was to perform a comparison between mineral profile and NO3- content of microgreens and mature lettuces. Results showed that microgreens possess a higher content of most minerals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Se and Mo) and a lower NO3- content than mature lettuces. Therefore, microgreens can be considered as a good source of minerals in the human diet, and their consumption could be an important strategy to meet children's minerals dietary requirements without exposing them to harmful NO3-.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific