Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the mineral-focused nutritional composition of commercially available kimchi.
Materials and methods: Nutritional information for 428 kimchi products was obtained from the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s processed food database. In addition, a nutritional survey and mineral content analysis were conducted on commercially available baechukimchi (n = 63), followed by a nutritional assessment according to kimchi type.
Results: Among all the manufactured and processed kimchi products, baechukimchi accounted for ~ 60% of the products produced. Among the commercially available kimchi products, fresh kimchi had the highest price per 100 g. Stir-fried kimchi had the highest energy, fat, and saturated fat contents. Stuffed kimchi had the highest protein, carbohydrate, and sugar contents, whereas aged kimchi exhibited the highest Na content. In the mineral content analysis of commercially available baechukimchi, the Ca, K, and Mg levels were highest in stuffed kimchi; the P, Zn, and Cu levels were highest in stir-fried kimchi; and the Mn level was highest in seasoned kimchi. Based on a single serving of total kimchi products, the Mo and Cr contents exceeded 10% of the reference values at 14.3% and 12.5%, respectively. The index of nutritional quality for all kimchi products exceeded 1, ranging from 1.44 for Zn to 26.8 for Mo.
Conclusion: Despite being a salted food with a high Na content, kimchi is a mineral-dense food that can contribute to the intake of various dietary minerals when it is consumed in appropriate amounts.

*These authors contributed equally to this work.

Author Details

Authors

• Jihye Hong¹*
• Yun-Jung Bae²*
• Su-Ryeon Han¹
• Mi-Kyeong Choi¹

Departments

• ¹ Department of Food and Nutrition, Kongju National University, Yesan, and
• ² Major in Food and Nutrition, Korea National University of Transportation, Jeungpyeong, Republic of Korea

Address

Mi-Kyeong Choi, PhD
Department of Food and Nutrition
Kongju National University
54 Daehak-ro, Yesan 32439, South Korea
Email: [email protected]

Citation