Nutritional Quality of Conventional, Organic, and Hydroponic Tomatoes Commercialized in Quito, Ecuador

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Abstract

The consumption of natural foods is increasingly high, and in recent years, consumers have preferred foods from systems with responsible management of natural resources (organic, hydroponic). However, there are still contradictions regarding the nutritional content of products from these different types of crops. Our study aims to compare, for the first time, the content of antioxidants (ascorbic acid, lycopene, total phenolics, essential fatty acids), micronutrients (copper, iron, manganese, zinc), contaminants (cadmium and lead), and free radical scavenging activity between conventional, organic, and hydroponic tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) sold in markets in Quito, Ecuador. Ascorbic acid and lycopene were determined by HPLC/UV-Vis. Total phenolics (Folin–Ciocalteu method) and free-radical scavenging activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method) were determined via UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Lipid profiles were determined as fatty acid methyl esters through a GC-FID. Trace metals were determined using FAAS (micronutrients), and GFAAS (pollutants). No significant differences (p > 0.05) between antioxidant and micronutrient content among the three types of tomatoes were found. Regarding cadmium and lead, the contents were below the Codex Alimentarius threshold limits. Finally, free radical scavenging activity varied slightly (organic > hydroponic > conventional). Although the samples showed certain differences in antioxidant content, none of the tomato types could be considered nutritionally better because of the high variability of the results.
Translated title of the contributionCalidad nutricional de tomates convencionales, orgánicos e hidropónicos comercializados en Quito, Ecuador
Original languageEnglish
Article number1348
Pages (from-to)1-19
Number of pages19
JournalFoods
Volume13
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.

Funding

The authors thank the Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00F3lica del Ecuador for the financial support.

FundersFunder number
Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador

    Keywords

    • ascorbic acid
    • DPPH
    • lycopene
    • micronutrients
    • polyunsaturated fatty acids
    • tomatoes
    • total phenolics
    • toxic metals
    • trace metals

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