Carrots (Daucus carota L.) Biofortified with Iodine and Selenium as a Raw Material for the Production of Juice with Additional Nutritional Functions

Abstract

Many people around the world struggle with the problem of an insufficient supply of iodine (I) and selenium (SE) in their diet. Food enriched with these elements is a good source of iodine and selenium. Juices made from four carrot (CJ) cultivars and biofortified with iodine and selenium (BCJs) were investigated to determine their I and Se contents, their impact on the supply of these elements to the diet, and losses in the production process. Other juice parameters important for consumers health were also determined. A significant increase in I and Se content relative to CJ was observed for each BCJ. The losses of I and Se (relative to raw material) during juice preparation were depended based on variety and added elements. Carrot biofertilization with iodine and selenium contributed to decreased contents of dry matter, total soluble solids, protein, sugars, and β-carotene in the juices and lower antioxidative activity as compared with CJ. Biofortification had little effect on the color and pH of juices. Finally, six polyphenolic compounds were identified and determined. Despite the reduction in the content of some ingredients in BCJ, they still remain their valuable source. Their added value is the increased content of iodine and selenium, which largely cover the daily demand for these elementals.

1. Introduction

Over the past few years, there has been a change in the perception of nutrition. In the past, food was treated only as an essential source of energy for the body. Currently, it also provides physiological benefits in the form of proper functioning of the body. A proper diet prevents the occurrence of many diseases, alleviates their course, and is of great importance during the recovery period. Guarantee of human well-being requires a balanced intake of nutrients.

Worldwide, many populations struggle with problems posed by deficits of elements indispensable for health and life maintenance, including, for example, iodine and selenium. In a human body, selenium enables transformation of thyroxine (T4) into tyrosine (T3) [1], prevents the outcomes of oxidative stress, takes part in the immune response of the body and testosterone synthesis, as well as prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases, viral infections, certain types of cancer, and type II diabetes. Selenium occurs naturally in Earth’s crust, however its abundance therein varies [2]. Selenium occurs also in the animal kingdom, mainly in the form of selenocysteine, selenoneine (2-selenyl-N_α,N_α,N_α-trimethyl-L-histidine), as well as in the plant kingdom, in the form of selenomethionine, Se-methylselenocysteine, and γ-glutamyl-Se-methylselenocysteine. In both, the plant- and animal-based products, it can be found in the form of sodium selenite and selenate [3].

Iodine is another element whose deficiency is observed in the global population, leading to serious adverse effects in the human body. This element plays a key role in the proper functioning of the thyroid gland; iodine is a component of the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), produced by this gland. Iodine deficiency leads to many disorders in the body, including thyroid dysfunction (increased risk of cancer and goiter formation) and abnormal development of the neural tube and the brain in the prenatal and infancy period, which may manifest in cretinism [4,5]. The outcomes and the extent of its deficiency have afflicted entire populations and, for this reason, such international organizations, such as WHO, UNICEF, and ICCIDD, have joined their forces to cooperate with individual countries in the framework of national policies aimed to prevent it’s deficiencies [6]. The recommended daily intake of iodine ranges from 150 µg for adolescents to 260 µg for breast-feeding women. Population groups that are at the highest risk of iodine deficiency include infants and small children, as well as pregnant and breast-feeding women [7,8].

One of the popular methods to increase the supply of macro- and microelements to the body involves the enrichment of the most frequently consumed food products with these elements. However, this method leads to food enrichment with the mineral forms of elements, whereas biofortification of plants enables the synthesis of organic compounds of individual elements in their tissues [9]. Many of these compounds exhibit biological effects on a human body, which cannot be assured by the mineral forms of elements introduced directly into food products. In addition, they can be better absorbed and accumulated in tissues [10,11].

A high number of investigations have been undertaken in the last decade that were aimed at plant biofortification with elements being most deficient in diets of millions of people worldwide [12]. These elements are provided to plants through soil fertilization or through foliar application. Research addressing simultaneous plant fertilization with iodine and selenium are scarce [13,14,15]. Even more sparse are reports on the losses of elements the plant materials had been enriched with and on the comparison of the quality of food products made of biofortified and non-biofortified raw materials. The available works usually concern the effect of cooking on the physicochemical parameters and composition of heat-treated vegetables [16,17]. Some authors have addressed the issue of preparing ready-to-eat meals made of plant materials biofortified with selected microelements [18], whereas sparse studies have been conducted to investigate the feasibility of using biofortified raw materials in standard technological processes and to evaluate the quality of the finished products. Food products manufactured under controlled conditions of technological processes can be easily standardized, subjected to quality control, and by this means become nutritious dietary supplements with additional and specified nutritive and health-promoting values. However, it is necessary to determine the loss of ingredients, in which the raw material was enriched, during the technological process in order to be able to estimate both the minimum and maximum raw material requirements. Too low or too high content of additionally introduced ingredients in the raw material can result in the final product not having the expected additional nutritional functions or containing higher doses than recommended.

Carrot (Daucus carota L.), due to high consumption in raw and processed form (especially juices) all over the world, can be a good carrier of microelements in the human diet. In addition, this valuable vegetable contains, i.a., carbohydrates (10.6%), dietary fiber (1.2%), proteins (0.9%), fats (0.2%), and minerals (1.1%) including mainly calcium, iron, and phosphorus [19]. Furthermore, carrot, especially its orange-colored cultivars, is a fine source of carotenoids, including β-carotene, and many bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols including, in particular, such flavonoids as luteolin, quercetin, and kaempferol. In addition, it is a rich source of derivatives of cinnamic, chlorogenic, p-hydroxybenzoic, and caffeic acids [20].

The research hypothesis stated that juices obtained from raw materials biofortified with iodine and selenium are able to be used as valuable human dietary supplements with a high cover of %RDA of these minerals as an additional nutritional function.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of biofortification of four carrot cultivars with iodine and selenium on the physicochemical parameters and contents of selected bioactive compounds in thermally preserved carrot juices. The mineral composition of juices, (except for concentrations of iodine and selenium) have been addressed in a separate manuscript.

2. Materials and Methods

The experimental material included juices made of four cultivars of carrot, including three with the orange color (Aksona F₁, Samba F₁, and Kazan F₁) and one with the white color (White Satin) of the tuberous root. The subject of the study were juices made from all the aforementioned carrot cultivars biofortified with iodine and selenium via single pre-sowing fertilization of soil with iodine and selenium compounds in the following doses: 4 kg I·ha⁻¹ and 0.25 kg Se·ha⁻¹ in the form of KI and Na₂SeO₄. Juices pressed from carrot not fertilized with iodine and selenium served as the control. Raw material was grown, in 2014, in Prusy near Kraków, Poland (coordinates 50°07′06.0″ N 20°05′20.1″ E, 376 m a.s.l.) under field conditions in four randomly selected plots. Carrot seeds were sown at the end of April, and tuberous roots were harvested at the end of September, at the harvest maturity stage. Carrot was cultivated in a heavy soil with a silty clay loam texture. Details of the field experiment (the physicochemical properties of the soil, the cultivation details, and weather conditions) were provided in our previous article [21]. The collected roots of control and biofortified carrot were washed in tap water and intended for juice preparation. Juices were made of all cultivars, according to the same procedure (Figure 1). After washing, peeling, and cutting into 1 cm pieces, carrots were blanched (90 °C, 3 min), and then juice was pressed using a juice extractor and a basket press. Juice obtained was poured into glass bottles and sterilized (120 °C, 20 min). After cooling, it was stored at a temperature of 4 °C, for 3 months.

The content of I and Se in carrot juice samples was analyzed using an ICP-OES spectrometer (Prodigy, Leeman Labs, New Hampshire, MA, USA) after tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH, Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC, St. Louis, MO, USA) extraction according to Polish Standard and European Standard procedures [22,23].

Dry matter content of the carrot juices was determined following the gravimetric method according to [24], using a laboratory dryer (Pol-Eko-Aparatura SP. J., Wodzisław Śląski, Poland).

Active acidity of the carrot juices was measured according to [25] using a pH meter (Metrohm, Herisau, Switzerland).

Total soluble solid (TSS) content of the carrot juices was determined with the refractometric method [24], using a Pal 3 refractometer (Atago, Tokyo, Japan). Extract content was read out from the saccharide scale based on the light refraction index of the solution analyzed. Temperature compensation for refractometry was determined.

Total protein content of the carrot juices was determined using the Kjeldahl method [25]. Samples were wet mineralized in sulfuric(VI) acid in a Büchi Digestion Unit K-424 (Büchi Labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) and distilled with water vapor in a Büchi Distillation Unit B-324 (Büchi Labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland). The ammonia distillate obtained was titrated with 0.1 mol·dm⁻³ HCl.

Ethanolic extracts for analyses of contents of total sugar and total polyphenols, and for assays of the antioxidative activity against ABTS and DPPH radicals were prepared by weighing portions of juices and pouring them with 80% ethanol, followed by heating in a reflux condenser for 30 min. After cooling, the juice samples were filtered. The prepared extract was used for analyses by the spectrophotometric method using a Hitachi U-2900 UV-Vis spectrophotometer (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan).

Total sugar content was determined by the method based on the color reaction of these compounds with anthrone [26]. The alcoholic extracts were appropriately diluted with distilled water. Next, 2 mL of anthrone were added to 1 mL of a diluted sample. The prepared samples were mixed and heated in a boiling water batch for 10 min, and afterwards cooled. Furfural formed from pentoses and 5-hydroxy-methylfurfural formed from hexoses produce a color solution with anthrone; the intensity of its color is proportional to the sugar concentration in the extract. Color intensity measurement was carried out at a wavelength of λ = 625 nm.

The total polyphenols content was determined by the method involving the use of Folin–Ciocalteau reagent [27]. The reagent and 25% sodium carbonate were added to the samples, which were, then, mixed using a Labnet vortex mixer (Edison, NJ, USA). The mixed samples were left in a dark place, at room temperature, for 60 min. Afterwards, absorbance was measured at a wavelength of 675 nm. The total content of polyphenols was read out from a standard curve plotted for (+)-catechin.

The anti-free-radical activity of carrot juices was determined using a free DPPH radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) [28] and ABTS radical (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) [29]. Absorbance was measured 10 min after the free radical solution had been added to a sample, at wavelengths of 516 nm for DPPH and 734 nm for ABTS. The antioxidative activity of carrot juices was expressed in w μM Trolox per g of juice.

The β-carotene content was determined according to the routine method described in the ISO standard [30]. An appropriate weighted portion of carrot juice was pounded and extracted with acetone. Then, 20 mL of the acetone extract and 15 mL of hexane were transferred to a separator and shaken to allow β-carotene to migrate to the hexane fraction. The acetone phase was transferred to the second separator and re-extracted with hexane. Next, the hydrophobic fractions from both separators were combined and their volume was measured. Then, 20 mL of the solution were collected from the prepared extracts, concentrated by evaporation, and injected onto a chromatographic column filled with Al₂O₃. The β-carotene fraction was collected to a measuring flask (10 mL) and its absorbance was measured at a wavelength of 450 nm.

Samples for polyphenols content determination following the HPLC method were prepared according to the procedure described by Klimczak et al. [31] in own modification. NaOH (2 mol·dm⁻³) was added (1:1, v/v) to the carrot juices prepared as described above and the sample was mixed using a Labnet vortex mixer (Edison, NJ, USA) and left in a dark place for 4 h (room temperature). Then, it was neutralized to pH from 2.1 to 2.6 with HCl (2 mol·dm⁻³) using a pH meter (Metrohm, Herisau, Switzerland) and transferred quantitatively to a measuring flask with 1% L-ascorbic acid dissolved in methanol. Before the chromatographic analysis, the samples were centrifuged in an MPW-260R centrifuge (Warsaw, Poland) (RCF 30,065× g, 20 min, 4 °C) and filtered through a PTFE-L filter with pore diameter of 0.22 µm. Before injection onto the column, the samples were stored at 4 °C.

The chromatographic analysis was carried out in the HPLC Dionex UltiMate 3000 system with DAD detector (Thermo Scientific, Germering, Germany), using a Cosmosil 5C₁₈-MS-II column (250 × 4.6 mm ID, 5 µm) (Nacalai Tesque, Inc., Kyoto, Japan). Two eluents were used as the mobile phase: A, 2% (v/v) an aqueous solution of acetic acid, and B, 100% methanol. The flow rate of the mobile phase was 1 mL·min^-1 throughout the analysis, which lasted 50 min and was performed in the following system of eluents: eluent A, 0 min 95%; 10 min 70%; 25 min 50%; 35 min 30%; and 40 min 95%.

Color of the carrot juices was measured employing the transmittance method in the CIELab system [32], with the use of a Konica Minolta CM-3500d spectrophotometer (Konica Minolta Sensing, Osaka, Japan). It was measured with the reflectance method, using a Petri dish (6 cm in diameter and 4 cm in height), at an observer angle of 10° and illuminant D65. The measurement allowed determining values of the following parameters:

• L*, color lightness (L* = 0 black, L* = 100 white);
• a*, contribution of green (a* < 0) or red (a* > 0) color;
• b*, contribution of blue (b* < 0) or yellow (b* > 0) color.

The quantitative attribute of colorfulness is chroma (C*) which was calculated using following equation:

$$C^{*}=\sqrt{a^{*2}+b^{*2}}.$$

(1)

Color changes between the biofortified and unfortified carrot juice samples was expressed by the total color difference (ΔE*_ab). This parameter was calculated as the Euclidean distance between two points in the three-dimensional space determined by L*, a*, and b* using the following formula:

$$∆{\mathrm{E}}_{\mathrm{ab}}^{*}=\sqrt{\mathsf{\Delta }{a}^{*2}+\mathsf{\Delta }{b}^{*2}+\mathsf{\Delta }{L}^{*2}},$$

(2)

where Δa*, Δb*, and ΔL* are the differences between the control sample carrot juice (CJ) and biofortified carrot juice BCJ.

The analyses were performed in four repetitions. Results obtained were subjected to the statistical analysis using STATISTICA 12.0 software (Statsoft, Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA). One-way and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted, and the significance of differences between mean values was determined with the Duncan’s test at p < 0.05.

3. Results and Discussion

Selected physicochemical parameters of carrot juice depending on carrot biofortification and their varieties shown in

Table 1. Physicochemical parameters of carrot juice depending on carrot biofortification and their varieties.

	Iodine Content (mg‧kg−1 d.w.)	Selenium Content (mg‧kg−1 d.w.)	Dry Matter (g‧100 g−1)	pH	Total Soluble Solid (g‧100 g−1)	Total Protein (g‧100 g−1 f.w.)	Total Sugar (g‧100 g−1 f.w.)
Biofortification (n = 12)
Yes	1.47b	7.24b	6.52a	5.48a	6.03a	0.88a	4.87a
No	0.45a	2.10a	7.00b	5.55b	7.13b	1.04b	4.99b
Variety (n = 6)
Askona F1	1.19b	5.92c	7.66c	5.43a	7.62c	1.09b	5.68d
Samba F1	0.77a	4.85b	7.61c	5.70c	7.85d	1.15c	5.52c
Kazan F1	1.14b	3.31a	6.61b	5.44a	6.00b	0.82a	4.54b
White Satin	0.75a	4.61b	5.15a	5.50b	4.85a	0.79a	3.89a

The same letters in the columns set no differences at p < 0.05.

.

The iodine content in BCJ was depended on the carrot variety (Table 1). In each case, an increase in iodine content from 238 (for Samba F₁) to 448% (for Askona F₁) was observed in relation to the CJ (Figure 2a). CJ slightly covered the recommended daily intake of iodine (RDA = 150 µg per day), while BCJ brought significantly higher doses of this element (calculated on the consumption of 100 g of the product). This is particularly clear for the Askona F₁ and Kazan F₁ varieties (Figure 2c). In the case of CJ, the RDA coverage was 1.45–2.42% (iodine content 2.2–3.6 µg/100 g of fresh weight), depending on the variety, while for BCJ it was 3.77–8.15% (iodine content 5.66–12.23 µg/100 g fresh weight).

Biofortification in selenium was more effective than enrichment in iodine despite the use of smaller doses of selenium in soil fertilization (Table 1). The selenium content in BCJ was even 4,5 times higher than in CJ (Figure 2b). Consumption of 100 g of BCJ from the Askona F₁ variety provides a higher dose of selenium than recommended for adults (RDA = 55 µg per day) (Figure 2d). In the case of CJ, the RDA coverage was, depending on the variety, 15.23–33.40% (selenium content 8.38–18.37µg/100 g fresh weight), whereas for BCJ it was 70.64–146.77% (content 38, 85–80.72 µg/100 g fresh weight).

Taking into account the content of iodine and selenium in BCJ in the context of covering the daily requirement for these elements, the possibility of exceeding the recommended dose can also be a problem. In the case of iodine, it is unlikely because it would require an intake of at least 1200 mL, whereas in the case of selenium, the daily recommended dose (55 µg) could be exceeded with the consumption of 100 mL of juice. Exceeding the maximum safe dose of selenium consumption (450 µg) was also possible, although it would require the consumption of more than half a liter of juice a day.

The problem of different biofortification effectiveness has been reported earlier by [21,33], who suggested the need to precisely determine the doses of fertilizers. In the case of obtaining products from biofortified raw materials, it is important to obtain raw materials with an appropriate content of ingredients, and also to know the degree of their transfer to the finished product, which is not obvious.

It is a different matter to determine mineral losses in technological processes in relation to the raw materials. Although data on the most important macro- and micronutrients are widely available, for iodine and selenium from biofortified raw materials it is limited to a few reports. In the case of iodine, the losses of this element were similar in both the CJ and BCJ production processes. Depending on the variety, the I loss index was in the range of 36–39% in the case of CJ, whereas for BCJ it was slightly higher and was in the range of 42% and 49% (Figure 2e). A completely different tendency was observed in the case of selenium. The Se loss index in CJ was higher, from 39 to 51% in relation to the raw material, whereas in the case of BCJ the losses were only 1–10% (Figure 2f). This could be due to the types of compounds these elements formed in plant materials. Iodine, in addition to mineral forms, is incorporated into compounds with salicylic acid, which is a relatively small molecule that can dissolve in water during blanching. Selenium is largely incorporated into amino acids (selenomethionine and selenocysteine) embedded in high-molecular proteins [21].

The simultaneous biofortification of carrot with iodine and selenium in the form of KI and Na₂SeO₄ during plant cultivation affects both the physical properties and the content of most of the compounds analyzed in the juices made from it. The enrichment of the raw material to a lesser extent influences the physicochemical properties of juices obtained from the white variety of carrot (Table 1).

Dry matter content of the juices ranged from 5.04 to 8.33 g·100 g⁻¹. It was lower in BCJs made of two Askona F₁ and Samba F₁ cultivars, whereas no statistically significant differences were noted in its content between the BCJs made of the other two cultivars and the control CJ (Figure 3a). Dry matter content of CJ from orange non-biofortified carrot was similar (7.99–8.72 g·100 g⁻¹) to that reported by Hallmann et al. [34] for juices made of carrots from conventional and ecological cultivations. In turn, a higher dry matter content (8.99 g 100 g⁻¹) was determined by Olalude et al. [35] in one-day juices.

The biofortification increased the pH value of all juices, except for the juice made of Samba F₁ cv. (Figure 3b). A similar pH value to that obtained in our study for CJ from Samba F₁ cv. was reported by Leahu et al. [36]. A thermally non-preserved juice was also analyzed by Olalude et al. [35], however its pH value was higher (pH = 6.23), similar to the pH value (pH = 6.8) of fresh juice produced by Martínez-Flores et al. [37]. In turn, the juice made of carrot grown in Pakistan had a slightly lower pH value (pH = 4.99) [38], whereas a significantly lower pH value (pH = 4.5) was demonstrated for the carrot juice from China [39]. The differences in the pH values reported could have been significantly affected by the composition of the soil the carrot was grown in and by its fertilization [33].

Total soluble solid (Figure 3c), total protein (Figure 3d), and total sugar (Figure 3e) were significantly higher in the juices from orange non-biofortified carrots, except for the total sugar content and for no differences noted in protein content noted for the juice made of White Satin cv. The TSS content of orange carrot juice produced by Leahu et al. [36] was at 7.31 g·100 g⁻¹, which was higher than that determined in this study for the juice made of orange-root carrot Kazan F₁ cv. and, at the same time, lower than the values obtained for juices from the other non-biofortified orange carrot cultivars. Extract content determined by Hallmann et al. [34] fitted within the range from 4.75 to 5.46 g·100g⁻¹ depending on cultivar and cultivation method (ecological vs. conventional). Protein content determined in carrot juice by Olalude et al. [35] reached 1 g·100 g⁻¹, which was higher than in the carrot juice made of Kazan F₁ cv. and lower than in the other juices made of the non-biofortified orange carrot cultivars. In turn, the content of total sugars in the juices produced in this study was lower than that reported by Olalude et al. [35], which could be due to carrot cultivar used to produce the juices (Table 1). An insignificantly higher content of sugars in the raw material from Kazan F₁ cv. was determined in our previous article [40].

The total polyphenols content and the antioxidant activity were lower in the BCJs. The best in terms of these properties turned out to be the carrot juice made of Samba F₁ cv. (

Table 2. Antioxidant activity of carrot juices depending on carrot biofortification and their varieties (results for fresh weight).

	ABTS (µmol Trolox‧g−1)	DPPH (µmol Trolox‧g−1)	Total Polyphenols (mg Catechin‧100 g−1)	β-Carotene (mg‧100 g−1)
Biofortification (n = 12)
Yes	48.7a	4.0a	33.6a	2.04a
No	51.6b	5.1b	39.9b	2.50b
Variety (n = 6)
Askona F1	55.4b	4.9c	42.9c	3.12c
Samba F1	58.0c	5.6d	42.4c	3.39b
Kazan F1	43.7a	4.3b	32.9b	3.57d
White Satin	43.5a	3.3a	28.7a	0.00a

The same letters in the columns set no differences at p < 0.05.

).

The juices prepared from the biofortified orange cultivar had a lower content of the analyzed polyphenolic compounds, except for the juice made of Samba F₁ cv. (Figure 4a). No significant differences were found in the antioxidant activity of the juice made of White Satin carrot cv., regardless of biofortification and radical applied (Figure 4a,b). The antioxidant activity of a fresh carrot juice against the ABTS radical demonstrated by Domaradzki et al. [41] was similar to that determined for CJ from Askona F₁ cv. in this study. A slightly lower antioxidant activity as compared with that assayed in this study, was determined by Kidoń et al. [42] for purple carrot juices. In turn, the antioxidant activity of juices against DPPH radical determined by Martínez-Flores et al. [37] was similar to that obtained in our study for CJ from Samba F₁ cv. A significantly lower antioxidant activity of thermally preserved carrot juices against this radical was obtained by Quitão-Teixeira et al. [43].

The total polyphenols content in the CJ juices was higher as compared with BCJ, except for the juice made from the Askona variety, in which there was no statistically significant differences noted. The most sensitive variety of carrots for biofortification in terms of this parameter is Samba F₁ cv. (Figure 4c). The total polyphenols content in juices produced by Martínez-Flores et al. [37] was significantly lower than that obtained in this study. A similar total content of polyphenols was determined by Smoleń et al. [40] in fresh roots of Kazan F₁ carrot cv.

The BCJs also had a lower content of β-carotene than CJ, except for these made of Askona F₁ cv. (Figure 4d). In terms of the content of this pigment, the best cultivar for juice production turned out to be Kazan F₁ cv. (Table 2), although it was the most strongly affected by biofortification. Similar contents of β-carotene were determined in carrot juices by other authors [44]. In a similar technological process (carrot blanching and pasteurization), they obtained β-carotene concentration at 2.8 mg·100 mL⁻¹. Its insignificantly lower concentrations, ranging from 1.58 to 1.78 mg·100 mL⁻¹ depending on carrot cultivar and juice production method, were obtained by Hallmann et al. [34]. According to Domaradzki et al. [41], one-day juices had a higher content of β-carotene (8.4–8.89 mg·100 g⁻¹), however they were not subjected to thermal preservation which led to its losses [45].

Polyphenols identified in carrot juices included (+) catechin, routine, as well as caffeic, ferulic, p-cumaric, and salicylic acids. Contents of caffeic, as well as ferulic and salicylic acids were higher in BCJs (

Table 3. Selected polyphenols in carrot juices depending on carrot biofortification and their varieties (results for fresh weight).

	Caffeic Acid (mg‧100 g−1)	Ferulic Acid (mg‧100 g−1)	(+) Catechin (mg‧100 g-1)	Routine (mg‧100 g−1)	Salicylic Acid (mg‧100 g−1)	p-Cumaric Acid (mg‧100 g−1)
Biofortification (n = 12)
Yes	0.29b	0.06b	9.44a	2.17a	0.04b	0.022a
No	0.26a	0.05a	10.45b	2.13a	0.03a	0.022a
Variety (n = 6)
Askona F1	0.30c	0.05b	9.62c	2.15a	0.03b	0.021b
Samba F1	0.25b	0.06c	12.32d	2.19a	0.05c	0.017a
Kazan F1	0.47d	0.07d	8.68a	2.15a	0.02a	0.027c
White Satin	0.09a	0.04a	9.17b	2.11a	nd	nd

The same letters in the columns set no differences at p < 0.05. nd, not detected.

).

Juices made of the non-biofortified carrot of Kazan F₁ cv. had higher contents of caffeic, ferulic, salicylic, and p-coumaric acids than the juices produced from the other cultivars tested. In the other BCJs from orange cultivars, contents of these polyphenols were higher than in the analogous CJs (Figure 5a–e). Similar dependencies were noted for the juice made from white carrot, however, it did not contain salicylic or p-coumaric acid. In contrast, the biofortification caused a decrease in (+)catechin content, regardless of carrot cultivar used for juice production. Likewise, study [41] detected caffeic and ferulic acids and additionally chlorogenic and 3- and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids in fresh (Karoten cv.) and thermally preserved carrot juices. In turn, according to Ma et al. [46], the prevailing polyphenol in carrot juice turned out to be caffeic acid, regardless of the juice production method (fresh, blanched, or enzymatically treated carrot). They also detected p-coumaric acid in carrot juice samples. Considering the above, it can be concluded that the composition of the polyphenolic fraction of carrot juices depends on both, cultivation conditions and juice production method.

Color is one of the most important quality attributes of food products affecting their perception by consumers. Food color predetermines consumer perceptions of freshness and expectations of flavor, smell, and nutritional value. The color parameters of the tested carrot juices depending on the biofortification of the carrot and its cultivars are presented in

Table 4. Color parameters of carrot juice depending on the biofortification of carrots and their varieties.

	L*	a*	b*	C*
Biofortification (n = 12)
Yes	41.4b	22.4b	42.5b	57.28a
No	41.2a	22.2a	41.9a	56.29a
Variety (n = 6)
Askona F1	41.7b	28.7b	50.2c	57.78b
Samba F1	41.8b	28.8b	50.0c	57.72b
Kazan F1	40.8a	30.1c	45.8b	54.86b
White Satin	41.0a	1.6a	22.8a	22.83a

L*—color lightness; a*—contribution of green or red color; b*—contribution of blue or yellow color; C*—chroma. The same letters in the columns set no differences at p < 0.05.

.

Biofortification also affected the color parameters of carrot juices. The BCJs were lighter, more red (parameter a*), and more yellow (parameter) (Table 4), except for the lightness and parameter b* value noted for white carrot juice and orange Kazan F₁ cv. juice, in the case of which the differences were not statistically significant (Figure 6a–c). One-day juices analyzed by [36] had lighter color as well as lower contribution of red and yellow colors. As a result of the pasteurization process, the color of carrot juices turned darker and the contribution of red and yellow colors increased [47]. Compared to the pasteurized juices, the juices made in this study of orange carrot cultivars were characterized by less lightness and at the same time by a higher contribution of red and yellow colors. This could have been due to the higher temperature of preservation (sterilization) and longer storage of the juices before analyses. The impact of biofortification on the color intensity of the juices of all carrot varieties is too small to be perceived by human. The chroma C* value for CJ is not statistically significant from C* value of BCJ juices (Figure 6d). Total color difference (ΔE*ab) between CJ and BJC juices ranged from 0.29 (White Satin variety) to 1.97 (Samba F₁ variety) CIELab units, with an average value for juices of orange carrot varieties 1.77 ± 0.17 CIELab units.

In carrot juice, the content of carotenoids and, in some cases anthocyanins, makes the product more colorful. Apart from changes in pigment’s level, the change in yellowness can be partly due to the activity of enzymes such as polyphenol oxidases (PPOs) and peroxidase (POD), responsible for enzymatic browning. However, in our work, blanching carrots in the juice production process inactivates the enzymes responsible for this process.

4. Conclusions

Biofortification of carrot, used as a raw material for juice production, contributed to decreased contents of most of the analyzed compounds in BCJs, which was, however, strongly dependent on the carrot cultivar. In turn, it had a weaker effect on the quality of the juice made of White Satin carrot cultivar. Despite that, this juice revealed generally poorer properties as compared with the juices made from the orange carrot cultivars.

Carrot biofortification slightly influenced the color of juices. The greatest difference was observed for the value of L parameter measured in the juice made of Samba F₁ cv., which reached 1.03 units. Although this difference was statistically significant, it could not be noticed by consumers.

Considering all parameters examined, the best cultivars for the production of juices (both CJ and BCJ) turned out to be Askona F₁ and Samba F₁. Juices produced from these carrot cultivars had higher values of the analyzed parameters than the juice made of Kazan F₁ cv. (except for β-carotene content). The process of carrot biofortification with iodine and selenium compounds contributed to a decrease in contents of dry matter, total soluble solid, and protein, as well as antioxidant activity against DPPH and total content of poliphenols in the juices produced from these cultivars, however, values of the aforementioned parameters were still higher or similar to these determined in juice made of the commercially used Kazan F₁ cultivar.

Despite the aforementioned reduction in the content of some ingredients in biofortified juices, they still remain their valuable source. Their added value is definitely the increased content of iodine and selenium, which can largely cover the daily demand for these elementals.

It seems essential to minimize the effect of biofortification on the physicochemical properties of products manufactured from enriched raw materials. Therefore, it is important to continue investigations into the optimization of concentrations of elements used for raw material biofortification and to establish suitable ratios between them.