title: Biofortification of crops with nutrients: factors affecting utilization and storage.
abstract: Biofortification is an effective and economical method to improve the micronutrient content of crops, particularly staples that sustain human populations in developing countries. Whereas conventional fortification requires artificial additives, biofortification involves the synthesis or accumulation of nutrients by plants at source. Little is known about the relative merits of biofortification and artificial fortification in terms of nutrient bioaccessibility and bioavailability, and much depends on the biochemical nature of the nutrient, which can promote or delay uptake, and determine how efficiently different nutrients are transported through the blood, stored, and utilized. Data from the first plants biofortified with minerals and vitamins provide evidence that the way in which nutrients are presented can affect how they are processed and utilized in the human body. The latest studies on the effects of the food matrix, processing and storage on nutrient transfer from biofortified crops are reviewed, as well as current knowledge about nutrient absorption and utilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Technology, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Díaz-Gómez
authors.affiliation: TRM Ltd., York, UK.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Twyman
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Changfu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida-Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRB Lleida), Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: José Ce
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Lleida-Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida (IRB Lleida), Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Portero-Otin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Biosynthesis group, Department of Molecular Biosciences, J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Capell
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain; ICREA, Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: christou@pvcf.udl.cat.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Christou
mesh_terms: D000072759:Biofortification / Q000379:methods*; D001682:Biological Availability; D018556:Crops, Agricultural; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients; D009753:Nutritive Value
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients