Impact of storage on β-carotene content of spirulina produce in Burkina Faso
Keywords:
Spirulina, Storage, β-carotene, Burkina FasoAbstract
Spirulina is a food supplement rich in micronutrients including vitamins. It is a beneficial food for humans and the WHO calls it a "superfood" because it has a high nutritional value. This study aimed to assess the impact of storage on the levels of β-carotene in sun-dried spirulina. This is an analytical study which involves determining the levels of β-carotene in sun-dried spirulina using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The average content of β-carotene in spirulina before storage was 35.55 mg / 100
- After six months of storage, the average content of β-carotene went down to 21.36 mg / 100 g. This
constitutes a loss in β-carotene of 40%. Drying and packaging are the best means of commercial distribution of spirulina. The loss of nutritional values during storage of spirulina leads to rapid consumption after the harvest of spirulina.