Suitability of Zinc-enriched Spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) for Human Consumption

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is one of the essential micronutrients for human beings, and its deficiency affects the health adversely. At the same time, excessive intake of Zn may cause several physiological diseases and dis-orders. Hence, risk to human health from intake of Zn-enriched spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) was assessed in terms of hazard quotient (HQ). In a pot culture experiment, spinach was grown on soil treated with four levels of Zn (0, 5, 20 and 40 mg Zn kg-1) and three levels of organics (control, 3% farmyard manure and 3% poultry manure). Results indicated that Zn content in first cutting of spinach was 66.0 to 152.9 mg kg-1 across the treatments with a mean value of 99.9 mg kg-1. Similar kind of enrichment was recorded in case of second cutting. A substantial increase in daily dietary intake of Zn through consumption of this leafy green vegetable was projected by application of Zn along with organics. The values of HQ varied from 0.05 to 0.11 and 0.07 to 0.17 for first cutting and second cutting, respectively. For intake of Zn through consumption of this vegetable, soil application of Zn up to 20 mg kg-1 was considered safe taking 0.5 as guide value of HQ.