ArticleScientific reports2020
Mineral analysis reveals extreme manganese concentrations in wild harvested and commercially available edible termites.
Article in Scientific reports, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- The Environmental and Ecological Benefits of Edible Insects: A Review.Food science & nutrition · 2025Review
- Insights into the effects of geographical sourcing area on nutrient composition and sensory attributes of nine edible insects.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The contribution of commonly consumed edible insects to nutrition security in the Eastern D.R. Congo.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- A Comprehensive Review of the Importance of Selected Trace Elements Present in Edible Insects.Biological trace element research · 2023Review
- Nutritional Composition, Health Benefits, and Application Value of Edible Insects: A Review.Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Examining the effect of manganese on physiological processes: Invertebrate models.Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP · 2022Article
- Anthropo-entomophagy: quantitatively chemical assessment of some edible arthropods, bought from an e-shop.Environmental science and pollution research international · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
13 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Termites are widely used as a food resource, particularly in Africa and Asia. Markets for insects as food are also expanding worldwide. To inform the development of insect-based foods, we analysed selected minerals (Fe-Mn-Zn-Cu-Mg) in wild-harvested and commercially available termites. Mineral values were compared to selected commercially available insects. Alate termites, of the genera Macrotermes and Odontotermes, showed remarkably high manganese (Mn) content (292-515 mg/100 gdw), roughly 50-100 times the concentrations detected in other insects. Other mineral elements occur at moderate concentrations in all insects examined. On further examination, the Mn is located primarily in the abdomens of the Macrotermes subhyalinus; with scanning electron microscopy revealing small spherical structures highly enriched for Mn. We identify the fungus comb, of Macrotermes subhyanus, as a potential biological source of the high Mn concentrations. Consuming even small quantities of termite alates could exceed current upper recommended intakes for Mn in both adults and children. Given the widespread use of termites as food, a better understanding the sources, distribution and bio-availability of these high Mn concentrations in termite alates is needed.
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Registered trials
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