John Miller
Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D, which is essential for healthy living. Vitamin D helps with the transport and absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and is crucial for muscle function. White button mushrooms, also known as champignon mushrooms, are the most commonly consumed variety. These mushrooms are typically grown in the dark and have negligible amounts of vitamin D. However, when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) radiation, they can produce significant amounts of vitamin D, specifically vitamin D2. This process involves the conversion of ergosterol, a compound present in mushrooms, into pre-vitamin D2, which is then converted to vitamin D2. While natural sunlight is a convenient source of UV radiation, artificial UV light can also be used to boost the vitamin D content of mushrooms. Some retailers are now offering UV-treated mushrooms, and consumers can also expose store-bought mushrooms to sunlight to increase their vitamin D intake.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are white mushrooms exposed to UV in stores? | No, white mushrooms are usually grown in controlled environments in darkness or with minimal light. |
| Why are they not exposed to UV in stores? | Mushrooms are exposed to UV to increase their vitamin D content. White mushrooms are already the most commonly consumed variety, so there is less incentive to treat them with UV. |
| How can I get UV-exposed white mushrooms? | Some brands sell white mushrooms exposed to UV, which are available in grocery stores nationwide. Alternatively, you can buy regular white mushrooms and expose them to sunlight yourself. |
| What are the benefits of UV-exposed white mushrooms? | Vitamin D is essential for muscle function and the transport and absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate. |
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What You'll Learn
- Mushrooms are exposed to UV light to increase vitamin D content
- White mushrooms are grown in darkness, with minimal light exposure
- Vitamin D2 content decreases over time, even after UV exposure
- Mushrooms exposed to sunlight or UV radiation are an excellent source of vitamin D2
- White button mushrooms are a common variety of white mushrooms
Mushrooms are exposed to UV light to increase vitamin D content
Mushrooms are exposed to UV light to increase their vitamin D content. Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D2, which is just as effective as vitamin D2 from supplements. When mushrooms are exposed to sunlight or artificial UV light, they produce vitamin D. The vitamin D content in mushrooms can be increased by exposing them to UV light for 15-120 minutes. The amount of vitamin D produced depends on how much surface area is exposed to the sunlight or UV light. Slicing the mushrooms or exposing the gills will result in more vitamin D being produced.
White button mushrooms, for example, are typically grown in the dark and contain negligible amounts of vitamin D2. However, when exposed to UV radiation, they become an abundant source of vitamin D2. This process involves the conversion of provitamin D2 to previtamin D2, which then isomerizes to vitamin D2.
Some mushroom producers have started exposing their mushrooms to UV radiation to increase their vitamin D content. UV-treated mushrooms are now available in some retail markets. For example, the Monterey brand of mushrooms offers varieties that are exposed to UV light and are high in Vitamin D, and are available in many grocery stores nationwide.
Additionally, you can create your own vitamin D-enriched mushrooms by exposing store-bought or homegrown mushrooms to sunlight. Simply slice fresh mushrooms and place them in direct sunlight for a few hours on a sunny summer day. By doing so, you can significantly increase the vitamin D content in the mushrooms, providing a valuable source of this essential nutrient.
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White mushrooms are grown in darkness, with minimal light exposure
White button mushrooms are typically grown in the dark or with minimal light exposure. This is because they are usually cultivated in controlled environments. As a result, they contain negligible amounts of vitamin D2.
Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D, which is essential for healthy living. Vitamin D helps with the transport and absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, and is crucial for muscle function. When exposed to sunlight or UV radiation, mushrooms increase their vitamin D content and can retain these heightened levels even after a year of storage.
To boost the vitamin D content of store-bought white mushrooms, they can be exposed to sunlight before cooking. This is because mushrooms contain high levels of a compound called ergosterol, which is similar to cholesterol and helps strengthen cell membranes and transport between cells. When exposed to UV rays, ergosterol is converted to 'pre-vitamin D2', and subsequent exposure to a heat source, such as sunlight, converts this to vitamin D2.
Studies have found that exposing sliced mushrooms to sunlight for as little as 15 minutes in the summer can result in a significant increase in vitamin D2 content. Similarly, exposing whole mushrooms to UV-B radiation for 15-120 minutes can also increase vitamin D2 levels. Therefore, even if you buy white mushrooms that have been grown in the dark, you can still increase their vitamin D content by exposing them to sunlight before consumption.
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Vitamin D2 content decreases over time, even after UV exposure
Mushrooms are the only non-animal food source of vitamin D. Vitamin D2 in mushrooms is formed when they are exposed to sunlight or UV-B radiation. The provitamin D2 in mushrooms is converted to previtamin D2, which then becomes vitamin D2. The vitamin D2 content of mushrooms is influenced by factors such as the time of day, season, latitude, weather conditions, and exposure time.
While UV exposure increases the vitamin D2 content in mushrooms, this content decreases over time, even after exposure. For example, the vitamin D2 concentration in sliced button mushrooms dropped from 12 μg/g DM to 8-9 μg/g DM after 3-11 days of storage at 3 °C. Oyster and shiitake mushrooms stored at 4 °C showed a slight increase in vitamin D2 concentrations in the first 24 hours of storage, but then the levels gradually reduced over 10 days to about one-third to half of the highest post-UV exposure level.
The rate of decline in vitamin D2 content may vary depending on storage conditions and mushroom variety. For instance, fresh button mushrooms stored at 2.2 °C showed a predicted decline in vitamin D2 concentration to 1.75 μg/g DM after 14 days. In contrast, chanterelle mushrooms that were hot air-dried and stored in darkness for 2-6 years were found to have vitamin D2 contents ranging from 0.12 to 6.3 μg/g DM.
The decrease in vitamin D2 content over time, even after UV exposure, highlights the importance of consuming mushrooms within their "best-before" dates to maximize the vitamin D2 intake. Additionally, it suggests that the processing, storage, and cooking methods can impact the vitamin D2 levels in mushrooms.
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Mushrooms exposed to sunlight or UV radiation are an excellent source of vitamin D2
Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D, but not all mushrooms contain notable levels of vitamin D. The vitamin D content in mushrooms depends on their exposure to sunlight or UV radiation. Mushrooms that are cultivated indoors or in controlled environments with minimal light have low vitamin D content. However, when exposed to sunlight or UV radiation, they become an excellent source of vitamin D2.
White button mushrooms, for example, are typically grown in the dark and have negligible vitamin D2 levels. When exposed to UV radiation, however, they can become a rich source of this nutrient. In one study, white button mushrooms were found to contain 56.3 μg/100 g fresh weight of provitamin D2 and only 0.11 μg/100 g fresh weight of vitamin D2 when grown in the dark. After being exposed to UV radiation, the provitamin D2 was converted to previtamin D2, which then rapidly isomerized to vitamin D2.
Similarly, fresh button mushrooms sold in stores have been reported to have less than 1 μg/100 g of vitamin D2 due to their growth in darkness or minimal light conditions. When these same mushrooms are exposed to midday sunlight for 15-120 minutes, they can generate vitamin D2 levels exceeding 10 μg/100 g, which is closer to the daily recommended intake of vitamin D. The amount of vitamin D2 produced depends on factors such as weather conditions, time of day, location, and surface area exposed to sunlight or UV light.
To enhance the vitamin D content of store-bought mushrooms, consumers can place them in sunlight before cooking. Exposing sliced mushrooms to sunlight for 15 minutes in the summer can result in vitamin D2 levels of up to 17.5 μg/100 g. Additionally, certain brands of white mushrooms are now being exposed to UV light during production, making them a good source of vitamin D and readily available in grocery stores.
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White button mushrooms are a common variety of white mushrooms
White button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) are a common variety of white mushrooms. They are the most commonly consumed of all mushroom varieties and are also known as Champignon mushrooms, which means "mushroom" in French. White button mushrooms are typically grown in the dark and, therefore, contain negligible amounts of vitamin D2. However, they are a rich source of provitamin D2, with 56.3 μg/100 g fresh weight.
When exposed to UV radiation or sunlight, white button mushrooms can produce significant amounts of vitamin D2. This process involves converting the ergosterol present in mushrooms into previtamin D2, which then becomes vitamin D2. The amount of vitamin D2 produced depends on the duration and intensity of UV exposure, as well as the surface area of the mushrooms exposed. Slicing the mushrooms or exposing their gills can increase the amount of vitamin D2 generated.
Some producers have started treating white button mushrooms with UV radiation to enhance their vitamin D2 content. These UV-treated mushrooms are increasingly available in retail markets and grocery stores. For example, the Monterey brand offers UV-exposed white button mushrooms with high vitamin D content.
In addition to their vitamin D benefits, white button mushrooms have other nutritional attributes. They are a good source of selenium, copper, and protein. Compared to oyster mushrooms, they contain double the amount of beta-glucan, a compound that may have beneficial effects on blood glucose, gut health, and cholesterol levels. White button mushrooms are also known to have medicinal properties, having been used for centuries to fight inflammation and infection, promote digestion, and treat insomnia.
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Frequently asked questions
White button mushrooms are usually grown in the dark and contain negligible amounts of vitamin D2. However, some producers have started exposing them to UV radiation to increase their vitamin D2 content. These UV-treated white mushrooms are increasingly available in grocery stores.
The amount of vitamin D produced in white mushrooms exposed to UV light depends on factors such as the duration of exposure, surface area exposed, and the type of UV light. Studies have found that exposing sliced white button mushrooms to UV-B light for as little as 5-15 minutes can result in vitamin D2 concentrations of up to 406 μg/g DW.
Some brands, such as Monterey, specifically market their mushrooms as being exposed to UV light and high in vitamin D. You can look for these brands or check the nutritional information on the packaging to see if vitamin D content is listed. Additionally, white button mushrooms that have been exposed to UV light will have a darker colour.
