Improving iron content in sustainable mycoprotein production through seawater fermentation

The growing global population and rising protein demand are straining freshwater resources. Fusarium venenatum (Fv) mycoprotein offers a sustainable protein alternative, with environmental efficiency and potential health benefits. However, its low iron content remains a concern, especially for veget...

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Main Authors: Bi-Hua Yang, Tzu-Chun Lin, Ting-Wei Lin, Shan Lin, I-Chen Li, Yen-Lien Chen, Tsung-Ju Li, Chin-Chu Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Future Foods
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833524001771
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author Bi-Hua Yang
Tzu-Chun Lin
Ting-Wei Lin
Shan Lin
I-Chen Li
Yen-Lien Chen
Tsung-Ju Li
Chin-Chu Chen
author_facet Bi-Hua Yang
Tzu-Chun Lin
Ting-Wei Lin
Shan Lin
I-Chen Li
Yen-Lien Chen
Tsung-Ju Li
Chin-Chu Chen
author_sort Bi-Hua Yang
collection DOAJ
description The growing global population and rising protein demand are straining freshwater resources. Fusarium venenatum (Fv) mycoprotein offers a sustainable protein alternative, with environmental efficiency and potential health benefits. However, its low iron content remains a concern, especially for vegetarians and vegans. This study introduces a sustainable approach, employing seawater as a fermentation medium for Fv production. Our analysis reveals that mycoprotein derived from SEA Fv exhibits elevated levels of sodium and calcium, with a notably high iron content (2.2 mg/100 g wet weight). The sodium content, while 3.31 times higher than in non-seawater fermentation, remains within recommended daily intake parameters. No plasticizers or heavy metals were detected in the SEA Fv cell body, minimizing long-term toxicity risks from seawater use. A unique metabolite, dihydroorotic acid, was identified from an in-house library of 774 metabolites, serving as an internal biomarker for seawater-based production methods. An acute safety study condensing 600 g of SEA Fv to simulate high mycoprotein digestion showed no effects on key physical behaviors or major organs, including the heart and lungs. This positions the product as a viable protein alternative with enhanced iron content, highlighting seawater-based fermentation as a sustainable method for future food production and industry progress.
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spelling doaj-art-deb6677fcf4a447b90671e98c56a90cd2025-08-20T01:57:59ZengElsevierFuture Foods2666-83352024-12-011010047310.1016/j.fufo.2024.100473Improving iron content in sustainable mycoprotein production through seawater fermentationBi-Hua Yang0Tzu-Chun Lin1Ting-Wei Lin2Shan Lin3I-Chen Li4Yen-Lien Chen5Tsung-Ju Li6Chin-Chu Chen7Biotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan 32542, TaiwanBiotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan 32542, TaiwanBiotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan 32542, TaiwanBiotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan 32542, TaiwanBiotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan 32542, TaiwanBiotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan 32542, TaiwanBiotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan 32542, Taiwan; Corresponding authors.Biotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan 32542, Taiwan; Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Nutraceutical Biotechnology, Shih Chien University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding authors.The growing global population and rising protein demand are straining freshwater resources. Fusarium venenatum (Fv) mycoprotein offers a sustainable protein alternative, with environmental efficiency and potential health benefits. However, its low iron content remains a concern, especially for vegetarians and vegans. This study introduces a sustainable approach, employing seawater as a fermentation medium for Fv production. Our analysis reveals that mycoprotein derived from SEA Fv exhibits elevated levels of sodium and calcium, with a notably high iron content (2.2 mg/100 g wet weight). The sodium content, while 3.31 times higher than in non-seawater fermentation, remains within recommended daily intake parameters. No plasticizers or heavy metals were detected in the SEA Fv cell body, minimizing long-term toxicity risks from seawater use. A unique metabolite, dihydroorotic acid, was identified from an in-house library of 774 metabolites, serving as an internal biomarker for seawater-based production methods. An acute safety study condensing 600 g of SEA Fv to simulate high mycoprotein digestion showed no effects on key physical behaviors or major organs, including the heart and lungs. This positions the product as a viable protein alternative with enhanced iron content, highlighting seawater-based fermentation as a sustainable method for future food production and industry progress.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833524001771MycoproteinSeawaterFermentationAlternative proteinIron nutritionMetabolite
spellingShingle Bi-Hua Yang
Tzu-Chun Lin
Ting-Wei Lin
Shan Lin
I-Chen Li
Yen-Lien Chen
Tsung-Ju Li
Chin-Chu Chen
Improving iron content in sustainable mycoprotein production through seawater fermentation
Future Foods
Mycoprotein
Seawater
Fermentation
Alternative protein
Iron nutrition
Metabolite
title Improving iron content in sustainable mycoprotein production through seawater fermentation
title_full Improving iron content in sustainable mycoprotein production through seawater fermentation
title_fullStr Improving iron content in sustainable mycoprotein production through seawater fermentation
title_full_unstemmed Improving iron content in sustainable mycoprotein production through seawater fermentation
title_short Improving iron content in sustainable mycoprotein production through seawater fermentation
title_sort improving iron content in sustainable mycoprotein production through seawater fermentation
topic Mycoprotein
Seawater
Fermentation
Alternative protein
Iron nutrition
Metabolite
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666833524001771
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AT shanlin improvingironcontentinsustainablemycoproteinproductionthroughseawaterfermentation
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