Microbial-based biofortification to mitigate African micronutrients deficiency: A focus on plant-based fermentation as source of B-group vitamins

Summary

Micronutrient deficiency is a form of malnutrition responsible for different metabolic diseases, widely shared among developing low-and middle-income African countries. While deficiencies of calcium, iron, vitamin A, zinc, and selenium have been counteracted mainly by implementing mandatory food fortification programs, little attention was given so far on strategies to decrease inadequate intake of water-soluble B-group vitamins. In this review, we summarize the physiological role B-group vitamins, and discuss the approaches commonly used to tackle their deficiencies in Africa, namely (i) dietary diversification, (ii) supplementation, and (iii) fortification, with the main focus being here the microbial-based biofortification of food. We report the increasing evidence of plant-based Africa