A Comparative Analysis on the Variation of β-Carotene, Vitamin C and E Levels in Hydroponic and Soil-Based Fruits and Vegetables in Kiambu County, Kenya.

Antioxidants such as β-carotene, vitamin C, and E in fruits and vegetables (FAVs) have been associated with a reduction in non-communicable diseases because of their vital metabolic roles. However, their levels in foods could vary depending on the farming systems. Hence, this study examined the levels of β-carotene, vitamin C, and E in hydroponic and soil-grown spinach, tomatoes, and strawberries. A cross-sectional study with an analytical component was conducted to facilitate this comparison. Ten samples were collected from hydroponic farms and nine were from soil-based farms. The data was analyzed using SPSS (version 25). The level of vitamin C was significantly higher in hydroponically grown tomatoes ( = 0.008) and strawberries ( = 0.037) compared to those from the soil-based system. The level of vitamin E was significantly higher in hydroponic tomatoes, spinach, and strawberries ( ≤ 0.05) compared to those grown in the soil-based system. Β-carotene level was significantly higher only in the hydroponically grown spinach ( < 0.05) unlike tomatoes, and it was not detected in both hydroponic and soil-based strawberries. In conclusion, the findings of this study show a remarkable nutrient accumulation in some FAVs grown in the hydroponic farming system leading to a higher nutrient density compared to those grown in the soil-based systems. Training and provision of resources for hydroponic farming could be done to scale up production in the country to promote food security by obtaining nutritious FAVs within a short period throughout the year.