Work

Comparative proximate composition, mineral profiles and dietary exposure assessment of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian date cultivars

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study comparatively evaluated the proximate composition, mineral profiles, and dietary exposure of six Saudi Arabian and fourteen Pakistani date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars. Samples were freeze-dried and acid-digested, followed by atomic absorption spectrometry for mineral analysis and conventional proximate analysis. Moisture content varied among cultivars, with Asul Kurh, Pathri, and Oatakin exceeding 14%. Fat and protein contents were broadly similar, whereas fiber varied considerably. Pakistani cultivars showed higher descriptive Zn concentrations, reaching 13.9 μg g −1 ; however, the difference between countries was not significant ( p = 0.124), precluding a geographical advantage. Ca, Mg, and Fe also varied among cultivars. Multivariate analysis revealed compositional associations across geographical groups; Basra clustered with the Saudi cultivars Kalmi, Safawi, and Sukkari, while other cultivars formed distinct subgroups. The findings demonstrate substantial cultivar-level variability without a consistent geographical pattern. Dietary risk estimates were based on measured nutrient and mineral concentrations using EDI and THQ.

Source: Food Chemistry X

DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2026.104672