Calcium is the one of the most vital element for human and animal nutrition. It builds skeletons, supports muscle, and keeps nerve function. It is vital in reproduction and other biochemical reactions in the body. In birds, egg shells consists of 97% calcium. In fish, they need calcium for bone development, osmoregulation, and egg production. The same goes to reptiles – for bone growth maintenance, muscle function, and metabolism.
In a study published in Slovak Journal of Food Sciences, they evaluated in detail the calcium equivalent of different types of commercially-grown insects and its use in human nutrition and can be applied to animal nutrition as well. This addresses the problems such as inaccessibility to calcium nutrition, and as with the case of humans – lactose intolerance and soy allergies. They also evaluated the amount of Phosphorus of each insect since this element is closely related and important in calcium metabolism.
Table 1. The calcium content in various type of food (Velíšek 2002).
Their results showed that Bombyx mori, the Domestic Silkmoth, has the highest calcium content of 1006/1149 mg per kg min/max but low in dry matter. This is followed by Gryllus assimillis which has a comparable amount of Calcium to spinach and lentils and has the second highest amount of Phosphorus next to Silkmoth. All insects that were evaluated have higher amount of calcium than traditionally edible meats. Chicken has 60/130 mg per kg min/max, beef has 30/150 mg per kg min/max, and pork only has 50/90 mg per kg min/max.
Figure 1. Comparison of the calcium content in tested species of insects and some species of edible insects.
Figure 2. Comparison of the phosphorus content in tested species of insects and some species of edible insects.
Based from the comparisons, the data above shows a very helpful information for another source of protein. Insects can be considered as such to improve nutrition and overall health of humans, animals, birds, fish, invertebrates and all species that need calcium in general.
Reference:
Adámková, A., Kouřimská, L., Borkovcová, M., Mlček, J., & Bednářová, M. (2014). Calcium in edible insects and its use in human nutrition. Potravinarstvo Slovak Journal of Food Sciences, 8(1), 233–238. https://doi.org/10.5219/366
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