Carotenoid and vitamin content ofKaratand other Micronesian banana cultivars

Abstract

We previously found high carotenoid levels in Karat and other Micronesian bananas, indicating potential importance for alleviating vitamin A deficiency and other nutritionally related health problems in the Federated States of Micronesia. Past work focused on carotenoid and mineral analyses, whereas here we investigated 16 cultivars (most not previously analysed) for a broader micronutrient profile, including seven vitamins. Karat carotenoid levels were higher than in previous analyses, confirming Karat as exceptionally carotenoid-rich. We identified an additional 10 carotenoid-rich cultivars, expanding the range having potential for alleviating vitamin A deficiency. A striking finding is the high riboflavin level in Karat, including high levels of uncharacterized flavonoids. Niacin and alpha-tocopherol are at levels that may contribute importantly to dietary intake within normal patterns of consumption. These data present a more complete basis for promoting the nutritional benefits of these banana cultivars where they are consumed in the Pacific, and potential benefits for promoting elsewhere.

Content and Retention of Provitamin A Carotenoids Following Ripening and Local Processing of Four Popular Musa Cultivars from Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

“…This study confirms findings by Englberger et al (2006aEnglberger et al ( , 2006b), Davey et al (2009aDavey et al ( , 2009b and Ngoh-Newilah et al (2009), that darker (orange/red/dark yellow) pulped Musa cultivars generally have significantly higher values of carotenoids as compared to lighter (ivory/cream/light yellow) pulped Musa cultivars.…”

Carotenoid and riboflavin content of banana cultivars from Makira, Solomon Islands

“…In Pohnpei, Micronesia, informants are very aware of the effect that Karat consumption has on coloring urine bright yellow, and that consuming Karat has a greater effect on urine color, than Utin Iap, another Fe'i banana (Englberger et al, 2006a). The assessment of these Micronesian Fe'i cultivars confirmed that Karat has substantially greater riboflavin content.…”

Progress update: Crop development of biofortified staple food crops under HarvestPlus

“…Screening of more than 300 genotypes from the Centre Africain Régional de Recherches sur Bananiers et Plantains (CARBAP, Cameroon), IITA-Uganda, and local collections found that provitamin A carotenoids ranged from 1 to 345 ppm [131,132]. Orange-fleshed cultivars indigenous to the Pacific region had particularly high provitamin A content, exceeding the target level of 30 ppm [133]. High provitamin A levels were also discovered in several African varieties.…”