Vitafoods Insights is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Organically grown beans richer in nutrients

Article-Organically grown beans richer in nutrients

Organically grown beans richer in nutrients .jpg
Organically grown Brazilian black beans show higher functional compounds and nutrients compared to nonorganic ones.

According to research published in Foods (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10040900), organic farming practices can boost the nutritional index of black beans and their functional properties.  Researchers from Brazil analysed phenolic compounds and nutrients in organic and nonorganic cultivated common black beans—Phaseolus vulgaris L—in coastal and metropolitan regions.

The results showed that organic beans have 20% higher proteins levels than nonorganic ones. Interestingly, organic farms had 78% and 55% lower nitrogen levels at coastal and metropolitan regions farms, respectively, than nonorganic farms. Researchers noted “this result may be explained by the frequent use of chemical fertilizers (usually rich in nitrogen) at nonorganic farms.”

Black beans are good sources of iron, zinc, magnesium, copper, potassium and phosphorous. In the current study, levels of copper and manganese were lower by approximately 35% and 27%, respectively, in the organic beans compared to nonorganic in both regions; organic beans from the metropolitan area had increased potassium levels (7%). However, researchers also found “no differences in magnesium and iron contents between organic and nonorganic beans in both regions, despite the variations observed in the soil.” They added, “In general, the contents of all minerals in beans and soils were not correlated, suggesting that plant intrinsic (genetic aspects and carbohydrates contents) and extrinsic factors (weather and soil physical-chemical aspects) influenced mineral acquisition capacity.”

The results further showed 10% lower levels of the antinutritional compound phytate in organic beans compared to nonorganic ones. When looking at the phenolic compounds soluble fraction (most abundant), researchers found nine compounds: delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidin-3-O-glucoside, malvidin-3-O-glucoside, myricetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, myricetin, gallic acid and quercetin. Interestingly, anthocyanins had the highest levels, representing 93% of the total soluble phenolic compound. Phenolic compounds were 25% higher in organic beans than nonorganic ones. Within the insoluble fraction of the beans, researchers reported: “no anthocyanins glucosides were identified, but three anthocyanidins (aglycones) were observed: delphinidin, malvidin and pelargonidin. Moreover, this fraction also contained two other phenolic acids (ferulic and sinapic acids) and one flavonol (kaempferol) that were not present in the soluble fraction.”