Abstract:This study aimed to evaluate the digestion and absorption of Ca, Fe and Zn in Morchella esculenta. The bioaccessibilities and partition coefficients of Ca, Fe and Zn in the coarse powder and ultrafine powder from the caps of Morchella esculenta and the coarse powder and ultrafine powder from the stipes of Morchella esculenta were examined by using an in vitro digestion model and octanol absorption model. Correlation analysis was carried out with the dissolution amounts of different forms. The results showed that Morchella esculenta was a very good food source of Ca, Fe and Zn. The total contents of Ca, Fe and Zn in the caps of Morchella esculenta were 268.77, 467.71 and 757.84 µg/g, respectively, with the bioaccessibilities being 66.44%~75.09%, 38.33%~46.17% and 35.51%~40.53%, respectively. The total contents of Ca, Fe and Zn in the stipes of Morchella esculenta were 290.25, 1234.31 and 727.59 µg/g, respectively, with the bioaccessibilities being 68.81%~75.62%, 27.70%~37.86% and 37.25%~42.96%, respectively. The bioaccessibility and partition coefficient of Ca were correlated significantly with the contents of its soluble form, organic form, polysaccharide-binding form and protein-binding form. The bioaccessibility and partition coefficient of Fe were correlated significantly with its total content, and contents of its soluble form and organic form. But the correlations among the in vitro digestion, absorption and dissolution amounts of different forms were not observed for Zn. The research results provide certain theoretical support for the development of Morchella esculenta products and the intake of trace elements.
