Promising Tropical Fruits High in Folates

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Food Chemistry
• Plant Science

Background:

• Growing consumer interest in tropical fruits necessitates comprehensive nutritional data.
• Folate (Vitamin B9) is crucial for human health, and its dietary sources require further investigation.
• Tropical fruits and vegetables are increasingly available in global markets, including Germany.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the total folate content and vitamer distribution in 35 diverse tropical fruits and vegetables.
• To assess the potential of these tropical foods to contribute to the recommended daily folate intake.
• To provide a comparative overview of folate levels across different tropical plant species.

Main Methods:

• Samples of 35 tropical fruits and vegetables were procured from German supermarkets.
• Lyophilization was employed for sample preparation prior to analysis.
• Stable Isotope Dilution Assay (SIDA) coupled with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for precise folate quantification.

Main Results:

• Folate content varied significantly, ranging from 7.82 ± 0.17 µg/100 g (horned melon) to 271 ± 3.64 µg/100 g (yellow passion fruit).
• Yellow passion fruit stands out, with 110 g providing the recommended daily intake (300 µg) for adults.
• Longan, okra, pete beans, papaya, mango, jackfruit, and feijoa were also identified as good dietary sources of folate.

Conclusions:

• This study provides valuable data on the folate content of a wide array of tropical fruits and vegetables.
• Several tropical fruits demonstrate significant potential to enhance folate intake in the human diet.
• Incorporating these folate-rich tropical foods can contribute to improving public health by addressing potential vitamin deficiencies.