Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Pesticide Chemistry and Technology Dept., Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Membrane Toxicology, Faculty of Agriculture, El-Shatby, Alexandria University, Egypt
2
Home Economics Department, Faculty of Specific Education, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Abstract
Dates are a nutritionally rich food that contains at least 15 different minerals, such as magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, and zinc. Studies conducted by Agoudjil et al. in 2011 and Ayad et al. in 2016 have found that the mineral content in dried dates ranges from 0.1 to 916 mg per 100 g of date flesh. Dates are rich in copper, selenium, potassium, and magnesium, and have modest amounts of manganese, iron, phosphorus, cobalt, fluorine, zinc, calcium, and chromium. They also contain small quantities of boron (Agoudjil et al. 2011). Chromium has been found to play an essential role for type 2 diabetics, as it increases the binding of insulin to its receptors on the cell surface and thus allows the passage of sugar to be used in vital processes instead of being excreted in the urine. The flesh of several date varietals can have a potassium concentration as high as 0.9%, while the seeds can have 0.5%. Date flesh is primarily composed of potassium, with a reduced phosphorus level compared to other macro-elements (Assirey 2015). Some trace elements, including zinc and copper, have been identified in low concentrations in dates, while iron is found in higher concentrations (Assirey 2015). Research has shown that the abundant potassium present in dates can be advantageous for those with hypertension. Boron is quite beneficial in the treatment of brain cancer, as well as other vitamins, and is also employed in the treatment of rheumatism (Vayalil 2012). The high concentration of fluorine present in dates is advantageous in the prevention of dental caries. Additionally, the presence of selenium in dates can aid in the prevention of cancer and enhance the human immune system. Based on a prior investigation, several types of dates contain selenium levels ranging from 1.48 to 2.96 μg/g (Vayalil 2012). Dates can serve as a dietary source of iron to address iron deficiency, without the potential adverse effects of standard iron supplements, such as nausea, headaches, and lack of appetite. Dates are a nutrient-rich choice when compared to other dried fruits, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA, 2011). Furthermore, fresh dates possess elevated levels of vitamins compared to dried dates due to the loss of vitamins during the drying procedure. Dried dates include thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine, and vitamin A, but in relatively low amounts (Hassan et al 2017).
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