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. 2025 Jun 5;13(6):e70403.
doi: 10.1002/fsn3.70403. eCollection 2025 Jun.

A Comparative Analysis on the Variation of β-Carotene, Vitamin C and E Levels in Hydroponic and Soil-Based Fruits and Vegetables in Kiambu County, Kenya

Rhodah Nekesa  1 , Lucy G Njue  1 , George O Abong  1
Affiliations

A Comparative Analysis on the Variation of β-Carotene, Vitamin C and E Levels in Hydroponic and Soil-Based Fruits and Vegetables in Kiambu County, Kenya

Rhodah Nekesa et al. Food Sci Nutr. .

Abstract

Antioxidants such as β-carotene, vitamin C, and E in fruits and vegetables (FAVs) have been associated with a reduction in non-communicable diseases because of their vital metabolic roles. However, their levels in foods could vary depending on the farming systems. Hence, this study examined the levels of β-carotene, vitamin C, and E in hydroponic and soil-grown spinach, tomatoes, and strawberries. A cross-sectional study with an analytical component was conducted to facilitate this comparison. Ten samples were collected from hydroponic farms and nine were from soil-based farms. The data was analyzed using SPSS (version 25). The level of vitamin C was significantly higher in hydroponically grown tomatoes (p = 0.008) and strawberries (p = 0.037) compared to those from the soil-based system. The level of vitamin E was significantly higher in hydroponic tomatoes, spinach, and strawberries (p ≤ 0.05) compared to those grown in the soil-based system. Β-carotene level was significantly higher only in the hydroponically grown spinach (p < 0.05) unlike tomatoes, and it was not detected in both hydroponic and soil-based strawberries. In conclusion, the findings of this study show a remarkable nutrient accumulation in some FAVs grown in the hydroponic farming system leading to a higher nutrient density compared to those grown in the soil-based systems. Training and provision of resources for hydroponic farming could be done to scale up production in the country to promote food security by obtaining nutritious FAVs within a short period throughout the year.

Keywords: antioxidants; fruits and vegetables; hydroponic system; nutrient accumulation; soil‐based system.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Dried spinach from the air dryer after 24 h.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Powdered spinach after grinding using a blender.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Dried tomatoes from the oven after 24 h.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Packaged samples of spinach, tomatoes, and strawberry in powder form.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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