What type of study is this?

This is a In Vitro Study study.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate the bioavailability of zinc in silkworm larva powder for human consumption.

December 21, 2025Journal of Insects as Food and Feed0 citationsOpen Access

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) larva converts less bioavailable plant-based zinc in mulberry (Morus alba) leaf to more bioavailable animal-based zinc

SAShinji AoyagiKanda University of International Studies PUP.L. UtterbackUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign CPC.M. ParsonsUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate the bioavailability of zinc in silkworm larva powder for human consumption.
Used chick bioassay to assess zinc bioavailability
Employing ZnSO4·H2O as the standard reference
Conducted multiple regression analysis of tibia zinc against supplemental zinc intake
Zinc in silkworm larva powder showed 175% relative bioavailability
Zinc from mulberry leaf had a relative bioavailability of 91%
Findings position silkworm larva powder as a high-quality zinc source.

Abstract

Abstract This is the first report on the in vitro bioavailability of zinc (Zn) in silkworm ( Bombyx mori ) larva powder (SLP) developed for human consumption. We used the chick bioassay, which has been extensively employed to evaluate the relative Zn bioavailability of animal feeds and foodstuffs, using ZnSO 4 ⋅ H 2 O as the 100% reference standard. Multiple regression analysis of total tibia Zn against supplemental Zn intake yielded a slope-ratio relative bioavailability value of 175% for Zn in SLP, which was significantly higher ( ) than that of mulberry ( Morus alba ) leaf (91%). SLP is an excellent efficacious source of very highly bioavailable Zn.

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