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Hilaj N, Boit T, Andang'o P, Zeder C, Mwangi MN, Hummel M, Velazco ON, van Loon JJA, Dicke M, Zimmermann MB, Melse-Boonstra A. Zinc absorption from maize-based meals enriched with edible house crickets: a randomized crossover stable-isotope study in Kenyan pre-school children. Nat Commun 2025; 16:1003. [PMID: 39856054 PMCID: PMC11761350 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56259-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Edible insects have been proposed as a novel and sustainable source of protein and other essential nutrients for human consumption but nutrient absorption efficiency is still uncertain. We investigated zinc absorption from house crickets (Acheta domesticus) in a single-center and single-blinded cross-over study with children aged 24-36 months old in Kenya from September-November 2021. For this, children were randomized to consume two different experimental meals labeled with stable isotopes of zinc (Zn) at two different days, separated by a wash-out period of one month. Primary endpoints were the differences in amount of absorbed zinc (AZ) from maize-based meals enriched with intrinsically 67Zn-labeled house crickets (2.61 mg Zn, n = 28) in comparison with meals enriched with 68Zn (low-enriched: 0.90 mg Zn, n = 29); high-enriched: 3.24 mg Zn, n = 28) or with intrinsically 67Zn-labeled low-chitin cricket flour (2.51 mg Zn, n = 25), whereas the secondary endpoints were the differences in fractional zinc absorption. We found that AZ from meals with whole crickets (geometric mean: 0.36 mg; 95%CI: 0.30, 0.43) was 2.6 times higher than from low-enriched maize meals (0.14 mg; 0.11, 0.16; P < 0.001), while it was not different from low-chitin cricket flour meals. Absorbed zinc from both cricket meals was higher than that from high-enriched meals. No severe adverse side events were reported. We conclude that edible house crickets are a good source of well-absorbable zinc, and their increased consumption could contribute to the alleviation of zinc deficiency. This trial was registered at the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry as PACTR202104533831364.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolin Hilaj
- Human Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
- Nestlé, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Tele Boit
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Section Nutrition and Health, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - Christophe Zeder
- Human Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Martin N Mwangi
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Consortium, Micronutrient Forum, Washington D.C., USA
| | - Marijke Hummel
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ornella Necochea Velazco
- Food Quality and Design Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Danone Nutricia Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joop J A van Loon
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel Dicke
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Michael B Zimmermann
- Human Nutrition Laboratory, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alida Melse-Boonstra
- Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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Boit TC, Melse-Boonstra A, Michaelsen KF, Roos N. Should we provide edible insects in children's diets? Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2024; 27:275-282. [PMID: 38456627 DOI: 10.1097/mco.0000000000001029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Diets low in animal-source foods or solely consisting of plant-based foods, hardly meet nutrition needs of children, exposing them to inadequate intake of essential nutrients. Thus, including edible insects in children's diets is relevant for meeting nutritional requirements, other potential health benefits, and building more sustainable food systems. Nutrition and health research on insects is novel and still limited. This review covers recently published research between April 2022 and November 2023 focusing on the relevance of including insects in children's diets. RECENT FINDINGS Insects provide protein, fat and micronutrients, and are generally nutritionally equivalent to animal-source foods. The protein and fat quality of edible insects varies depending on several factors. Insects also contain chitin which could potentially be beneficial for gut health. For insects to be considered suitable for inclusion in children's diet, they must be accepted. However, children who are unfamiliar with insects respond to them with curiosity and disgust. SUMMARY Insect farming can enhance their availability and consumption, potentially addressing nutrition gaps. Furthermore, transitioning from occasional to regular insect consumption requires actual exposure and integration into diets of insects. To affirm the nutrition and health potential of edible insects for children, well designed human studies are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tele Chepkoros Boit
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alida Melse-Boonstra
- Department of Human Nutrition & Health, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Kim F Michaelsen
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nanna Roos
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Norsa L, Agostoni C, Capriati T, Campanozzi A, Diamanti A, Lezo A, Gandullia P, Spagnuolo MI, Romano C. Novel insect-based child nutrition: the position of the nutritional committee of the Italian society of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition (SIGENP). Ital J Pediatr 2023; 49:161. [PMID: 38041096 PMCID: PMC10693123 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-023-01565-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The European Union (EU) approved the placement on European market of insect-based novel foods. Those foods were defined safe for the consumption for all European population, including children. MAIN BODY The nutrition committee of the Italian society of Paediatric Hepatology and Nutrition (SIGENP) performed literature research to understand benefits and risk of those use of those NF for Italian children. A special attention was reserved to the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) reports upon which those novel insect-based were approved. CONCLUSIONS Based on the current knowledge, despite a possible ecological advantage, the group of expert suggests additional researches before pronouncing on a possible use for children diet, because of insufficient evidence on nutritional benefits and possible food allergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Norsa
- Pediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Transplantation ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Piazza Oms 1, 24127, Bergamo, Italy.
| | - Carlo Agostoni
- Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Teresa Capriati
- Gastroenterology and Nutritional Rehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Campanozzi
- Pediatrics, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonella Diamanti
- Gastroenterology and Nutritional Rehabilitation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Lezo
- Dietetic and Clinical Nutrition Unit, Pediatric Hospital Regina Margherita, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Paolo Gandullia
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Institute "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Immacolata Spagnuolo
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences - Section of Pediatrics, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Claudio Romano
- Pediatric Gastroenterology and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Hammer L, Moretti D, Abbühl-Eng L, Kandiah P, Hilaj N, Portmann R, Egger L. Mealworm larvae ( Tenebrio molitor) and crickets ( Acheta domesticus) show high total protein in vitro digestibility and can provide good-to-excellent protein quality as determined by in vitro DIAAS. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1150581. [PMID: 37465141 PMCID: PMC10350632 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1150581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Edible insects, such as mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae; TM) and crickets (Acheta domesticus; AD), are a sustainable, protein-dense novel food with a favorable amino acid profile, which might be an alternative to animal proteins. To assess the protein quality of TM and AD, we assessed the digestible indispensable amino acid scores (DIAAS), considering individual amino acids and their ileal amino acid digestibility, using an in vitro model based on the INFOGEST digestion protocol. In addition, we evaluated if various processing and food preparation steps influenced the in vitro digestibility of individual amino acids and the in vitro DIAAS values of TM and AD and compared them to chicken breast as a reference of excellent protein quality. The total protein in vitro digestibility ranged from 91 to 99% for TM and from 79 to 93% for AD and was negatively affected by oven-drying and, to a lesser extent, by chitin-reduction. The in vitro DIAAS values were 113, 89, and 92 for chicken, blanched TM, and blanched AD, respectively, when considering the indispensable amino acid (IAA) requirements of young children between 6 months and 3 years. Across different processing and food preparation methods, the in vitro DIAAS values ranged between 59 and 89 for TM and between 40 and 92 for AD, with the lowest values found in chitin-reduced insects. Due to their similarities to chicken regarding protein composition, total protein in vitro digestibility, and in vitro DIAAS values, TM and AD might be an alternative to traditional animal proteins, provided that suitable processing and food preparation methods are applied. Our in vitro DIAAS results suggest that TM and AD can thus be considered good-quality protein sources for children older than 6 months. The DIAAS calculations are currently based on crude protein (total nitrogen × 6.25), resulting in an overestimation of insect protein content, and leading to an underestimation and potential misclassification of protein quality. The in vitro model applied in this study is a valuable tool for product development to optimize the protein quality of edible insects. Further studies are required to assess the in vivo DIAAS of insects in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Hammer
- Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux, Berne, Switzerland
- Department of Health, Swiss Distant University of Applied Sciences (FFHS), Brig, Switzerland
- Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Diego Moretti
- Department of Health, Swiss Distant University of Applied Sciences (FFHS), Brig, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Nikolin Hilaj
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Human Nutrition Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Lotti Egger
- Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux, Berne, Switzerland
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