Dietary mineral deficiencies impair the health of over three billion people globally and are responsible for illnesses and deaths during all stages of development from infancy through adulthood
(Bailey et al., 2015). It is estimated that two billion people globally suffer from iron deficiency (De
Benoist et al., 2008). Iron deficiency during pregnancy causes increases in premature deliveries, low birth weights and maternal deaths, while deficiency during infancy and early childhood can reduce physical growth and development of cognitive functions
(Bailey et al., 2015). Humans also suffer considerably from diseases caused by zinc deficiency. Adequate levels of zinc are essential to fetal development, healthy birth and subsequent physical growth
(King, 2011). Approximately one billion people globally are estimated to be at risk of zinc deficiency
(Wessells and Brown, 2012), primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. In Bangladesh, over 100 million people are at risk of arsenicosis associated with dietary selenium deficiency
(Combs, 2001). Diets deficient in selenium have been associated with a higher incidence of prostate cancer
(Wu et al., 2015). Mineral deficiencies can often be treated by dietary consumption of mineral supplements or fortified foods
(Miller and Welch, 2013). Unfortunately, in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and southwest Asia that are strongly affected by mineral deficiencies
(Yip and Ramakrishnan, 2002) various socioeconomic constraints can limit availability of mineral supplements and fortified foods.
In Morocco, lentil is produced mainly in low potential lands through the traditional farming system using landraces to insure home-consumption and livelihood security
(Benbrahim et al., 2017). Seeds of lentil landraces constitute an economic dietary source of protein, essential minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium and antioxidant compounds
(Benbrahim et al., 2016). According to Moroccan Ministry of Health surveys data (2000), the prevalence of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency affects 37.2% of pregnant women, 31.5% of preschool aged children (6 months - 5 years old), 32.6% of women of childbearing age and 18% of men. The healthcare costs and productivity losses due to micronutrient deficiencies account for about 5% of national GDP
(Aguenaou, 2007). Iron deficiency is among the most common micronutrient deficiency that affects about 50% of children aged between 7 and 9 old and 10% of women of childbearing age
(Alaoui, 2005) (El
Menchawy et al., 2015) (Petranovic et al., 2008). Iron deficiency and anemia lead to adverse consequences on human health and productivity as the decrease of work capacity and school performance
(Alaoui, 2005) (Vieteri, 1994) (Petranovic et al., 2008) and costs two billion dirham’s per year
(Aguenaou, 2007). Current rates of deficiency and anemia are mostly related to insufficient iron daily intake
(Alaoui, 1991) (EL
Hioui et al., 2007). Plant uptake ability of iron from the soil is behind several genes expression
(Mbasani-Mansi et al., 2019).
Another approach proposed to reduce the incidence of mineral deficiencies is biofortification, in which crop plants have higher concentrations of minerals in edible parts
(White and Broadle, 2005). Biofortification may be accomplished by applying management practices that result in increased concentrations of minerals in edible parts, development of new cultivars with elevated mineral concentrations through plant breeding, or a combination of management and genetic approaches
(Mbasani-Mansi et al., 2019). Several pulse crops, including lentils (
Lens culinaris Medik.)
(Ray et al., 2014) (Karakoy et al., 2012) have been proposed as targets for mineral biofortification. The development of new cultivars that stably express high concentrations of selected minerals require an understanding of the magnitude of genetics, environment and their interaction effects on mineral concentrations. Studies conducted in Morocco on lentils have shown that genotype, environment and their interaction effects were significant for seed concentrations of copper, magnesium, selenium and zinc
(Mbasani-Mansi et al., 2019). Significant genotype effects on seed mineral concentrations were also observed for lentils grown in Turkey
(Karakoy et al., 2012).
Our study focuses on Moroccan lentils to determine their micronutrient content because they are known for their richness in Fe, Ca, P, K (Guide marocain de nutrition 2016). In addition, since a great deal of studies have not been done on Moroccan lentils and given that annual lentils production in Morocco has dropped since the year 2000 (Table 1).
We were interested in studying the nutritional characteristics of Moroccan lentils, specifically the trace elements content. In the first place to know among the 36 samples which contain a better balance in the micronutrient composition, while using the analysis of the results given with PCA (principal component analysis) to encourage farmers to use these samples for future crops. Secondly, we conducted a study to find out in which part the whole seed cotyledon or the integument trace elements are concentrated more precisely. In addition, we wanted to know which sample contains a high concentration of Fe to use as a fortifier in the flours sold on the Moroccan market in order to increase their nutritional value and to avoid the population’s health problems related to the lack of this element in the human body.
Dietary mineral deficiencies impair the health of over three billion people globally and are responsible for illnesses and deaths during all stages of development from infancy through adulthood
(Bailey et al., 2015). It is estimated that two billion people globally suffer from iron deficiency (De
Benoist et al., 2008). Iron deficiency during pregnancy causes increases in premature deliveries, low birth weights and maternal deaths, while deficiency during infancy and early childhood can reduce physical growth and development of cognitive functions
(Bailey et al., 2015). Humans also suffer considerably from diseases caused by zinc deficiency. Adequate levels of zinc are essential to fetal development, healthy birth and subsequent physical growth
(King, 2011). Approximately one billion people globally are estimated to be at risk of zinc deficiency
(Wessells and Brown, 2012), primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. In Bangladesh, over 100 million people are at risk of arsenicosis associated with dietary selenium deficiency
(Combs, 2001). Diets deficient in selenium have been associated with a higher incidence of prostate cancer
(Wu et al., 2015). Mineral deficiencies can often be treated by dietary consumption of mineral supplements or fortified foods
(Miller and Welch, 2013). Unfortunately, in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and southwest Asia that are strongly affected by mineral deficiencies
(Yip and Ramakrishnan, 2002) various socioeconomic constraints can limit availability of mineral supplements and fortified foods.
In Morocco, lentil is produced mainly in low potential lands through the traditional farming system using landraces to insure home-consumption and livelihood security
(Benbrahim et al., 2017). Seeds of lentil landraces constitute an economic dietary source of protein, essential minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium and magnesium and antioxidant compounds
(Benbrahim et al., 2016). According to Moroccan Ministry of Health surveys data (2000), the prevalence of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency affects 37.2% of pregnant women, 31.5% of preschool aged children (6 months - 5 years old), 32.6% of women of childbearing age and 18% of men. The healthcare costs and productivity losses due to micronutrient deficiencies account for about 5% of national GDP
(Aguenaou, 2007). Iron deficiency is among the most common micronutrient deficiency that affects about 50% of children aged between 7 and 9 old and 10% of women of childbearing age
(Alaoui, 2005) (El
Menchawy et al., 2015) (Petranovic et al., 2008). Iron deficiency and anemia lead to adverse consequences on human health and productivity as the decrease of work capacity and school performance
(Alaoui, 2005) (Vieteri, 1994) (Petranovic et al., 2008) and costs two billion dirham’s per year
(Aguenaou, 2007). Current rates of deficiency and anemia are mostly related to insufficient iron daily intake
(Alaoui, 1991) (EL
Hioui et al., 2007). Plant uptake ability of iron from the soil is behind several genes expression
(Mbasani-Mansi et al., 2019).
Another approach proposed to reduce the incidence of mineral deficiencies is biofortification, in which crop plants have higher concentrations of minerals in edible parts
(White and Broadley 2005). Biofortification may be accomplished by applying management practices that result in increased concentrations of minerals in edible parts, development of new cultivars with elevated mineral concentrations through plant breeding, or a combination of management and genetic approaches
(Mbasani-Mansi et al., 2019). Several pulse crops, including lentils (
Lens culinaris Medik.)
(Ray et al., 2014) (Karakoy et al., 2012) have been proposed as targets for mineral biofortification. The development of new cultivars that stably express high concentrations of selected minerals require an understanding of the magnitude of genetics, environment and their interaction effects on mineral concentrations. Studies conducted in Morocco on lentils have shown that genotype, environment and their interaction effects were significant for seed concentrations of copper, magnesium, selenium and zinc
(Mbasani-Mansi et al., 2019). Significant genotype effects on seed mineral concentrations were also observed for lentils grown in Turkey
(Karakoy et al., 2012).
Our study focuses on Moroccan lentils to determine their micronutrient content because they are known for their richness in Fe, Ca, P, K (Guide marocain de nutrition, 2016). In addition, since a great deal of studies have not been done on Moroccan lentils and given that annual lentils production in Morocco has dropped since the year 2000 (Table 1).
We were interested in studying the nutritional characteristics of Moroccan lentils, specifically the trace elements content. In the first place to know among the 36 samples which contain a better balance in the micronutrient composition, while using the analysis of the results given with PCA (principal component analysis) to encourage farmers to use these samples for future crops. Secondly, we conducted a study to find out in which part the whole seed cotyledon or the integument trace elements are concentrated more precisely. In addition, we wanted to know which sample contains a high concentration of Fe to use as a fortifier in the flours sold on the Moroccan market in order to increase their nutritional value and to avoid the population’s health problems related to the lack of this element in the human body.
