Former foodstuff in mealworm farming: Effects on fatty acids profile, lipid metabolism and antioxidant molecules. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mattioli, Simona; Paci, Gisella; Fratini, Filippo; Dal Bosco, Alessandro; Tuccinardi, Tiziano; Mancini, Simone
• Is Part Of: Lebensmittel-Wissenschaft + Technologie =. Volume 147(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Mealworm -- Edible insects -- Oleic acid -- Lipid metabolism -- By-product -- Entomophagy; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food -- Composition -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Nutrition -- Periodicals; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2021.111644
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-6438

Abstract

Abstract: The capability of some insects to be reared on by-products, waste and former foodstuff make them a very promising response to the increasing request of animals' products. Mealworm larvae ( Tenebrio molitor ) are widely studied for feed and food purposes. In this study the effects of five diets were tested on the fatty acids (FA) profile, the lipid metabolism and the antioxidant molecules of the larvae. Three diets were composed by single ingredients as cookies, bread leftovers and brewery spent grains. Cookies were also mixed with bread or spent grains to increase the dietary lipids contents. Frass was studied to determine microbial contamination and FA/active biological molecules metabolisms. All the tested parameters were affected by the diets. Interestingly, beside the differences related to the diets, larvae showed a common trend in FA profile, with five FA representing between 87.25% and 94.59% of the total FAs (C18:1, C16:0, C18:2, C14:0 and C18:0). Lipid metabolism showed to be affected by FA profile of the diets, as well as retinol and tocopherol isoforms. Zeaxanthin, present into the diets, was not detected into the larvae but in the frass. Results point out a high nutritional value of mealworm larvae fed former foodstuff. Highlights: Former foodstuffs were reused as bioresources to increase circular economy Mealworm fatty acids profile highlighted a high content of oleic acid No efficient desaturase was showed by Tenebrio molitor larvae Mealworm nutritional value could be affected by employed substrate Evidence of high mealworms plasticity and potential tailor made of the final outcomes