Nutr Res Pract.  2013 Apr;7(2):82-88.

Chemical composition of nuts and seeds sold in Korea

• Chung KH
• Shin KO
• Hwang HJ
• Choi KS

Abstract

Eleven types of nuts and seeds were analyzed to determine their energy (326-733 mg), moisture (1.6-18.3 mg), carbohydrate (8.8-70.9 mg), protein (4.9-30.5 mg), lipid (2.5-69.8 mg), and ash (1.2-5.5 mg) contents per 100 g of sample. Energy content was highest in pine nuts (733 mg/100 g), carbohydrate level was highest in dried figs (70.9 mg/100 g) and protein was highest in peanuts (30.5 mg/100 g). The amino acid compositions of nuts and seeds were characterized by the dominance of hydrophobic (range = 1,348.6-10,284.6 mg), hydrophilic (range = 341.1-3,244.3 mg), acidic (range = 956.1-8,426.5 mg), and basic (range = 408.6-4,738.5 mg) amino acids. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were highest in macadamia nuts (81.3%), whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were highest in the walnuts (76.7%). Macadamia nuts did not contain any vitamin E, whereas sunflower seeds contained the highest level (60.3 mg/kg). Iron (Fe) content was highest in pumpkin seeds (95.85 +/- 33.01 ppm), zinc (Zn) content was highest in pistachios (67.24 +/- 30.25 ppm), copper (Cu) content was greatest in walnuts (25.45 +/- 21.51 ppm), and lead (Pb) content was greatest in wheat nuts (25.49 +/- 4.64 ppm), significantly (P < 0.05). In conclusion, current commercial nuts and seeds have no safety concerns, although further analysis of Pb contents is necessary to ensure safety.

Keyword

Nut; seed; polyunsaturated fatty acid; iron; zinc

MeSH Terms

Amino Acids
Arachis
Copper
Cucurbita
Dietary Sucrose
Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
Helianthus
Iron
Juglans
Korea
Macadamia
Nuts
Pistacia
Seeds
Triticum
Vitamins
Zinc
Amino Acids
Copper
Dietary Sucrose
Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
Iron
Vitamin E
Vitamins
Zinc