Selenium Content in Spelt, Buckwheat, and Vegetable Pasta

Abstract

Introduction. As a trace element, selenium is present in humans as part of selenoproteins. It improves the work of the antioxidant defense system and produces a strong immunomodulatory effect. Selenium is part of about 30 biologically active compounds of human body. However, selenium deficiency is considered a global problem. The research objective was to determine the selenium content in the developed pasta products. Study objects and methods. The study featured laboratory samples of pasta made from a mix of whole wheat spelt flour, buckwheat, and low-temperature drying powders of broccoli and celery. The selenium content was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy with electrothermal atomization with a palladium nitric acid matrix modifier. The experiment employed a Hitachi 180-80 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. To determine the selenium content, the samples underwent wet mineralization in nitric and perchloric acids. Adding hydrogen peroxide and ethanol made it possible to convert selenium from inorganic and organic forms into selenite ions. Results and discussion. The research involved domestic natural raw materials. The components proved to be good sources of selenium, which means that they can be used to produce functional products. The selenium content ranged from 105.7 ± 22 mkg/kg to 302.5 ± 17 mkg/kg in the samples. Taking into account the loss of selenium during cooking, the selenium content in 100 g of the finished product ranged from 13.5% to 38.5 %. Conclusion. The developed pasta products proved excellent sources of selenium. The use of buckwheat flour and vegetable powders in the formulation of wholegrain spelt dough increased the selenium content in the pasta by 40.7–186.2 %. The obtained results can be used for tables of the chemical composition of Russian food products.