Orkusz Agnieszka, Dymińska Lucyna, Banaś Karol, Harasym Joanna
Department of Biotechnology and Food Analysis, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland.
Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland.
Foods. 2023 Dec 21;13(1):32. doi: 10.3390/foods13010032.
The use of edible insects in the human diet is gaining importance because they are characterized by high nutritional value, and their cultivation is much more environmentally friendly than traditional livestock farming. The objective of this study was to determine the chemical and nutritional fat profile of selected edible insects as follows: house cricket ( adult), field cricket ( adult), mealworm ( larvae), and palm weevil ( larvae) which are now commercially available worldwide. Additionally, the degree of implementation of nutrition standards for selected nutrients by these insects was assessed. Freeze-dried insects were studied using infrared-attenuated total reflectance mid-infrared spectroscopy for basic differentiation. The content of fat and fatty acids was determined, and dietary indicators were calculated. The spectroscopic findings align with biochemical data, revealing that larvae contain the highest fat content and the least protein. Unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) predominated in the fat of the assessed insects. The highest content of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), along with the lowest content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), was observed in the larvae of the species. From a nutritional standpoint, larvae exhibit the most favorable indicators, characterized by minimal athero- and thrombogenic effects, along with an optimal balance of hypo- and hypercholesterolemic acids. Knowledge of the composition and quantities of fats in different insect species is valuable for planning and preparing meals with accurate nutritional profiles, among other applications.
食用昆虫在人类饮食中的应用正变得越来越重要，因为它们具有高营养价值，而且其养殖比传统畜牧业对环境更友好。本研究的目的是确定以下几种选定的可食用昆虫的化学和营养脂肪概况：家蟋蟀（成虫）、田蟋蟀（成虫）、黄粉虫（幼虫）和棕榈象鼻虫（幼虫），这些昆虫目前在全球范围内都有商业销售。此外，还评估了这些昆虫对选定营养素营养标准的执行程度。使用红外衰减全反射中红外光谱法对冻干昆虫进行研究以进行基本区分。测定了脂肪和脂肪酸的含量，并计算了膳食指标。光谱学研究结果与生化数据一致，表明黄粉虫幼虫的脂肪含量最高，蛋白质含量最低。在所评估昆虫的脂肪中，不饱和脂肪酸（UFA）占主导地位。在棕榈象鼻虫幼虫中观察到饱和脂肪酸（SFA）含量最高，而多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）含量最低。从营养角度来看，黄粉虫幼虫表现出最有利的指标，其特点是动脉粥样硬化和血栓形成作用最小，以及降胆固醇和升胆固醇酸的最佳平衡。了解不同昆虫种类中脂肪的组成和含量，对于规划和准备具有准确营养成分的膳食以及其他应用都具有重要价值。
