Effect of temperature and feed on the mineral content and the content of selected heavy metals in mealworm

Abstract

Minerals are important components of thousands of enzymes and other compounds in the body. Although the content of minerals in the human body is small, their importance is immense. Edible insects can provide many of these minerals in abundance, and are therefore thought to be a good source of micronutrients. This study dealt with the effect of a rearing temperature and feed on the mineral content and on the content of selected heavy metals in mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). Mealworm larvae were kept at temperatures of 15, 20 and 25 °C, and fed with wheat bran, lentil flour and a mixture of both. The types of feed for the experimental groups were chosen purposefully, considering the availability on site, price and especially the impact on the nutrition composition suitable for human. The concentrations of the most significant elements in terms of human nutrition concerns, that is zinc and copper, were determined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that the normality condition was not achieved for Ca, Fe, P and Pb (p<0.05). Therefore, these data were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis method, while ANOVA test was performed for the other elements. There was a statistically significant dependence of the Cd concentration on feed at a constant rearing temperature of 15 °C and 25 °C over the entire feed change range. The results included a change in Mg over the whole range of monitored values with a change of the rearing temperature and constant feed of lentils-bran,and with a change of feed and constant rearing temperature of 15 °C. In contrast, concentrations of Na, P, Ca and Cu over the whole observed range of feed or rearing temperature changes were independent from the variables. With an appropriately chosen rearing temperature and feed, it is possible to obtain mealworm with specific nutritional properties for a target group of consumers.

Minerals are important components of thousands of enzymes and other compounds in the body. Although the content of minerals in the human body is small, their importance is immense. Edible insects can provide many of these minerals in abundance, and are therefore thought to be a good source of micronutrients. This study dealt with the effect of a rearing temperature and feed on the mineral content and on the content of selected heavy metals in mealworm (Tenebrio molitor). Mealworm larvae were kept at temperatures of 15, 20 and 25 °C, and fed with wheat bran, lentil flour and a mixture of both. The types of feed for the experimental groups were chosen purposefully, considering the availability on site, price and especially the impact on the nutrition composition suitable for human. The concentrations of the most significant elements in terms of human nutrition concerns, that is zinc and copper, were determined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results showed that the normality condition was not achieved for Ca, Fe, P and Pb (p<0.05). Therefore, these data were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis method, while ANOVA test was performed for the other elements. There was a statistically significant dependence of the Cd concentration on feed at a constant rearing temperature of 15 °C and 25 °C over the entire feed change range. The results included a change in Mg over the whole range of monitored values with a change of the rearing temperature and constant feed of lentils-bran,and with a change of feed and constant rearing temperature of 15 °C. In contrast, concentrations of Na, P, Ca and Cu over the whole observed range of feed or rearing temperature changes were independent from the variables. With an appropriately chosen rearing temperature and feed, it is possible to obtain mealworm with specific nutritional properties for a target group of consumers.