Methods and compositions for improving the nutritional content of mushrooms and fungi

Abstract

An improved filamentous fungi is disclosed that has an enhanced nutritional profile by utilizing pulsed ultraviolet irradiation. According to the invention, the vitamin D component of mushrooms and other filamentous fungi may be drastically increased with no deleterious affects on appearance with the use of pulsed UV radiation. Mushrooms so treated had up to 1800% DV in one serving of fresh mushrooms.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of a provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 047,268 filed Apr. 23, 2008, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to a nutritional product for use in animal feed, foods and beverages and more particularly to a mushroom or fungi having an increased vitamin content.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Mushrooms are valuable health food—low in calories, high in vegetable proteins, chitin, iron, zinc, fiber, essential amino acids, vitamins & minerals. Mushrooms also have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Their legendary effects on promoting good health and vitality and increasing a body's adaptive abilities have been supported by Western medicine as well. They are an excellent source of selenium, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, copper, niacin, potassium and phosphorous. Selenium is needed for the pr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]This invention creates an improved food product with an enhanced nutritional profile by utilizing ultraviolet irradiation. The product is obtained by a method comprising the steps of obtaining a mushroom or other fungi the content of Vitamin D or its analogs or derivatives, of which is desired to be increased. The mushroom or fungi is subjected to pulsed UV irradiation. Applicants have discovered the dosage and timing of radiation (pulsing) to provide the highest benefit of increased Vitamin D content, without any negative effects on mushroom appearance, shelf life, or nutrients. These benefits were shown to be stable, even after more than one week in storage. The pulsed UV minimizes the damaging effects of ultra-violet radiation both from a mushroom quality as well as commercial preparation and workplace safety standpoint. Utilizing the irradiation in discrete pulses was shown to enhance the Vitamin D content on the order of eight to ten times the content of Vitamin D over non-irradiated mushroom or fungi. The effect was also demonstrated to not adversely affect other nutritionally desirable components of mushrooms and was shown to be effective at increasing Vitamin D when applied to mushroom tissues, components, or even to spent mushroom substrate. In yet another embodiment, the Vitamin D enriched mushroom substrate could be used in animal feed or as a nutritional source of Vitamin D. Mushrooms are usually produced by first preparing a substrate, such as corn, rice, millet or rye, prepared by soaking the grain in water and sterilizing the substrate before inoculation with mushroom spores or mushroom mycelia. Mycelia are the filamentous hyphae of a mushroom that collect water and nutrients to enable mushrooms to grow. The inoculated substrate is then held to promote colonization of the mycelia, at which point the mycelia-laced grains become “spawn”. This is usually done in individual spawn bags. The substrate provides the nutrients necessary for mycelium growth. The mycelium-impregnated substrate then develops under controlled temperature and moisture conditions, until the hyphae of the mycelium have colonized the substrate. The mycelium enriched product usually is harvested after about four to eight weeks from the beginning of the process, with the contents of the spawn bag possibly processed into dry powdered product. According to the invention, this spent substrate may also be enriched in Vitamin D upon application of pulsed UV irradiation.

Problems solved by technology

Without sufficient Vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen.

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