Methods and compositions for improving the nutritional content of mushrooms and fungi

Abstract

An improved filamentous fungi is disclosed that has an enhanced nutritional profile by utilizing pulsed ultraviolet irradiation. According to the invention, the vitamin D component of mushrooms and other filamentous fungi may be drastically increased with no deleterious affects on appearance with the use of pulsed UV radiation. Mushrooms so treated had up to 1800% DV in one serving of fresh mushrooms.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a nutritional product for use in animal feed, foods and beverages and more particularly to a mushroom or fungi having an increased vitamin content.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mushrooms are valuable health food—low in calories, high in vegetable proteins, chitin, iron, zinc, fiber, essential amino acids, vitamins & minerals. Mushrooms also have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Their legendary effects on promoting good health and vitality and increasing a body's adaptive abilities have been supported by Western medicine as well. They are an excellent source of selenium, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, copper, niacin, potassium and phosphorous. Selenium is needed for the proper function of the antioxidant system, which works to reduce the levels of damaging free radicals in the body. Selenium is a necessary cofactor of one of the body's most important internally produced antioxidants, glutathione peroxidase, and also works with Vitamin E in numerous vital antioxidant systems throughout the body.

Mushrooms are also the only vegetable or fruit which contains Vitamin D, naturally. All other natural food sources of Vitamin D are of animal, poultry or seafood origin. Also, some foods, such as milk, orange juice and cereals may be fortified with Vitamin D, up to 100 IU.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger Vitamin D synthesis. So one must either ingest Vitamin D or sit in the sun and soak up UV rays, so that it may be synthesized endogenously. The risks of sun exposure have gained much attention lately, and the association of sun exposure with Pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) and cancerous (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma) skin lesions—caused by loss of the skin's immune function, fine and coarse wrinkling of the skin, freckles, discoloration of the skin, and Elastosis—the destruction of the elastic tissue causing lines and wrinkles is well documented. Thus as people become more sensitive to the dangers of UV exposure, other dietary sources of Vitamin D become increasingly important for maintaining health.

Vitamin D is essential for promoting calcium absorption in the gut and maintaining adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone and prevent hypocalcemic tetany. It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Without sufficient Vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, Vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.

Vitamin D has other roles in human health, including modulation of neuromuscular and immune function and reduction of inflammation. Many genes encoding proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are modulated in part by Vitamin D. Many laboratory-cultured human cells have Vitamin D receptors and some convert 25(OH)D to 1,25(OH)₂D. It remains to be determined whether cells with Vitamin D receptors in the intact human carry out this conversion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a food product for use in foods and beverages which is high in nutritional values, particularly Vitamin D.

It is another object of the invention to provide methods for enhancing the Vitamin D content of mushrooms.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide such nutritionally enhanced mushrooms and filamentous fungi without any deleterious affects on the mushrooms appearance.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the invention which follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention creates an improved food product with an enhanced nutritional profile by utilizing ultraviolet irradiation. The product is obtained by a method comprising the steps of obtaining a mushroom or other fungi the content of Vitamin D or its analogs or derivatives, of which is desired to be increased. The mushroom or fungi is subjected to pulsed UV irradiation. Applicants have discovered the dosage and timing of radiation (pulsing) to provide the highest benefit of increased Vitamin D content, without any negative effects on mushroom appearance, shelf life, or nutrients. These benefits were shown to be stable, even after more than one week in storage. The pulsed UV minimizes the damaging effects of ultra-violet radiation both from a mushroom quality as well as commercial preparation and workplace safety standpoint. Utilizing the irradiation in discrete pulses was shown to enhance the Vitamin D content on the order of eight to ten times the content of Vitamin D over non-irradiated mushroom or fungi. The effect was also demonstrated to not adversely affect other nutritionally desirable components of mushrooms and was shown to be effective at increasing Vitamin D when applied to mushroom tissues, components, or even to spent mushroom substrate. In yet another embodiment, the Vitamin D enriched mushroom substrate could be used in animal feed or as a nutritional source of Vitamin D. Mushrooms are usually produced by first preparing a substrate, such as corn, rice, millet or rye, prepared by soaking the grain in water and sterilizing the substrate before inoculation with mushroom spores or mushroom mycelia. Mycelia are the filamentous hyphae of a mushroom that collect water and nutrients to enable mushrooms to grow. The inoculated substrate is then held to promote colonization of the mycelia, at which point the mycelia-laced grains become “spawn”. This is usually done in individual spawn bags. The substrate provides the nutrients necessary for mycelium growth. The mycelium-impregnated substrate then develops under controlled temperature and moisture conditions, until the hyphae of the mycelium have colonized the substrate. The mycelium enriched product usually is harvested after about four to eight weeks from the beginning of the process, with the contents of the spawn bag possibly processed into dry powdered product. According to the invention, this spent substrate may also be enriched in Vitamin D upon application of pulsed UV irradiation.

As used herein the term “mushroom” or “filamentous fungi” shall be interpreted to include all tissues, cells, organs of the same, including but not limited to mycelium, spores, gills, fruiting body, stipe, pileus, lamellae, basidiospores, basidia, and the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of UV treated mushrooms by the methods of Feeney et al.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of pulsed UV treated mushrooms according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph depicting the Vitamin D₂ content of fresh sliced mushrooms after exposure to pulsed UV-light at 0, 10 and 20 seconds (C-type lamp).

FIG. 4 is a graph depicting the Percent DV of Vitamin D₂ in one serving of fresh sliced mushrooms after exposure to pulsed UV-light at 0, 10 and 20 seconds (C-type lamp).

FIG. 5 is a graph depicting the Vitamin D₂ content of fresh sliced mushrooms after exposure to pulsed UV light at 0, 4, 10 and 20 seconds (C-type lamp).

FIG. 6 is a graph depicting the Percent DV of Vitamin D₂ in one serving of fresh sliced mushrooms after exposure to pulsed UV-light (C-type lamp).

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the Percent DV Vitamin D₂ in one serving (84 g) of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) after pulsed UV light exposure (B-type lamp). Error bars represent standard deviation of the three replications.

FIG. 8 is a graph depicting the percent DV Vitamin D₂ in one serving (84 g) of brown button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) after pulsed UV light exposure (B-type lamp). Error bars represent standard deviation of the three replications.

FIG. 9 is a graph depicting the percent DV Vitamin D₂ in one serving (84 g) of shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) after pulsed UV light exposure (B-type lamp). Error bars represent standard deviation of the two replications.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the percent DV Vitamin D₂ in one serving (84 g) of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) after pulsed UV light exposure (B-type lamp). Error bars represent standard deviation of the two replications.

FIG. 11 is a graph showing the vitamin D₂ content of pulsed UV treated (B-type lamp) selenium enriched and normal air-dried Agaricus bisporus mushroom powder. Samples were treated at a distance of 3.2 cm.

FIG. 12 is a graph showing the Vitamin D₂ and ergothioneine (black squares) contents of pulsed UV treated (B-type lamp) king oyster mushroom powder. Samples were treated at a distance of 3.2 cm.

FIG. 13 is a graph depicting the Vitamin D₂ content of pulsed UV treated (B-type lamp) king oyster mycelium grown on oat substrate. Samples were treated at a distance of 3.2 cm in both whole oat and ground powder form.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing the Vitamin D₂ content of pulsed UV treated (B-type lamp) spent king oyster substrate. Samples were treated wet and dry at a distance of 3.2 cm.

FIG. 15 is a graph depicting the Vitamin D₂ content of pulsed UV treated (B-type lamp) spent maitake substrate. Samples were treated at a distance of 3.2 cm before and after air-drying.

FIG. 16 is a graph showing the Vitamin D₂ and ergothioneine (black squares) contents of pulsed UV treated (C-type lamp) Agaricus bisporus. Samples were treated at a distance of 8 cm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Previous research (Feeney, 2006) determined that exposing mushrooms to constant ultraviolet light can produce Vitamin D₂ by converting the naturally-occurring ergosterol to Vitamin D₂. However, there were concerns about compliance with nutrition labeling regulations throughout retail distribution, deleterious affects on appearance, and tissue browning, See FIG. 1. Another significant disadvantage was the increased length of exposure time required by conventional sources of UV light, which were impractical in a packinghouse environment. Thus constant UV radiation at sufficient time and strength caused deleterious affects on the appearance of mushrooms and at best, achieved an increase of 100% of the % DV/per serving of Vitamin D but with a host of regulatory, and commercial processing concerns.

Chikthimmah and Beelman (2006) recently tested pulsed UV-light treatments at very high levels for long period of time (30 seconds or more) to reduce bacterial populations in fresh mushrooms. In this paper, they speculated that Vitamin D₂ content in mushrooms could be rapidly increased using pulsed UV-light. The conclusion was, however that such exposure caused discoloration and deleterious affects on the appearance of mushrooms, particularly white mushrooms. Such browning of mushrooms would make them commercially undesirable. Bacterial populations are responsible for the browning and degradation of mushrooms, which has a dramatic and negative affect on their appeal to customers.

According to the invention, applicant herein demonstrates that pulsed UV light at lower ranges and for very brief periods was shown to have dramatic increases in the Vitamin D levels present in such mushrooms, with increases by as much as 800 times the % DV (percent daily value) of Vitamin D content, per serving with no deleterious affects on the morphology or appearance of the mushroom. See FIG. 2. This dramatic increase in Vitamin D content in light of earlier studies which had demonstrated less Vitamin D conversion after much longer periods of UV exposure is quite surprising.

Pulsed UV-light treatments to increase Vitamin D₂ content in mushrooms were conducted with a laboratory scale, pulsed light sterilization system (SteriPulse®-XL 3000, Xenon Corporation, Woburn, Mass.) that is present in the Department of Agricultural Biological Engineering at Penn State. While applicants postulate that it is the UVB component of the Xenon pulsed light system that is responsible for the affects of the invention, it should be noted that the system uses pulsed light which includes the entire spectrum of light and may also include other components that contribute to the affects demonstrated herein and which are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

According to the invention, pulses of UV radiation of approximately 1-10 J/cm² per pulse, preferably 3-8 J/cm² and most preferably 5-6 J/cm² is used. Voltages may also vary based upon safety concerns but should generally be in the range or 1 to 10 or even up to 100 or 10,000 volts as safety mandates. The pulses should generally be in a range of 1-50 pulses per second more preferably 1-30 pulses per second and most preferably 1-10 pulses per second for a range of treatment post harvest of 0 to 60 seconds.

Any type of mushroom, mushroom part, component, fungi or even used substrate for cultivating mushrooms, with ergosterol present may be used. This includes all filamentous fungi where ergosterol has been shown to be present and includes the use of tissues such as the mycelia, spores or vegetative cells. This includes, but is not limited to, for example, Coprinus, Agrocybe, Hypholoma, Hypizygus, Pholiota, Pleurotus, Stropharia, Gardonerma, Grifola, Trametes, Hercicium, Tramella, Psilocybe, Agaricus, Phytophtora, Achlya, Flammulina, Melanoleuca, Agrocybe, Grifola, Morchella, Mastigomycotina, Auricularia, Gymnopilus, Mycena, Boletus, Gyromitra, Pholiota, Calvatia, Kuegneromyces, Phylacteria, Cantharellus, Lactarius, Pleurotus, Clitocybe, Lentinula (Lentinus), Stropharia, Coprinus, Lepiota, Tuber, Tremella, Drosophia, Leucocoprinus, Tricholoma, Dryphila, Marasmius, and Volvariella.

Non-limiting examples of other fungal genera, including fermentable fungi, include: Alternaria, Endothia, Neurospora, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Blakeslea, Monascus, Rhizopus, Cephalosporium, Mucor, and Trichoderma.

In yet another embodiment, the spent mushroom substrate upon which mushrooms are cultivated, was enriched in Vitamin D using pulsed UV light according to the invention. Such spent substrate could then be used as nutritional feed supplements and the like for animals.

The inventors used 5.61 J/cm² per pulse on the strobe surface for an input voltage of 3800V and with 3 pulses per second. Sliced mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus, white strain) were placed in the pulsed UV-light sterilization chamber and treated with pulsed light for up to a 20-second treatment at a distance of 17 cm from the UV lamp or 11.2 cm from the window. Control samples did not undergo any pulsed UV treatment. Treated mushrooms were freeze-dried and then sent to a selected commercial laboratory for Vitamin D₂ analysis. In this study, a pulsed UV system was also evaluated for effects on the appearance of fresh mushroom slices during a shelf life study.

Results of the experiments demonstrated that pulsed UV-light was very effective in rapidly converting ergosterol to Vitamin D₂. Control mushrooms contained 2 ppm d.w. Vitamin D₂, while 10 and 20 seconds of exposure to pulsed UV-light resulted in 17 and 26 ppm Vitamin D₂, respectively (FIG. 3). This increase was equivalent to over 1800% DV Vitamin D in one serving of fresh mushrooms after a 20 second exposure to pulsed UV (FIG. 4). The mushrooms treated for 20 seconds also showed no noticeable difference in appearance initially as well as after 10 days of storage at 3° C. compared to the untreated control.

These results compared favorably to the previous pilot study (Feeney, 2006) where mushrooms were exposed to 5 minutes of conventional UV-light exposure. In that study, the mushrooms contained 14 ppm Vitamin D₂, but they were also significantly discolored. Hence, the pulsed UV method shows considerable promise as a rapid means to enhance Vitamin D₂ levels in fresh mushrooms, theoretically reducing required exposure times from minutes to seconds. Pulsed UV-light exposure did not result in any negative effects on mushroom quality.

Another experiment revealed that pulsed UV-light could rapidly convert ergosterol present in dried oyster mushroom powder to Vitamin D₂ (Table 1). These findings indicate that this technology could be used to enrich other mushroom products with Vitamin D₂.

TABLE 1
Vitamin D2 generation in dried oyster mushroom powder exposed to
pulsed UV-light (C-type lamp).
Time of Exposure(s) Vitamin D2 (PPM)
0                   8.5
8                   15.18
16                  24.24

The present invention relates to methods for obtaining a nutritionally enhanced food product using pulsed UV radiation to increase Vitamin D and/or its derivatives in filamentous fungi. The solid substrate can be any part of the mushroom or mold, including the mycelia, spores etc, so long as ergosterol is present in at least part of the tissue or cells.

In the present invention, the filamentous fungi product is subjected to pulsed UV irradiation after harvest, being irradiated with UV light for a time sufficient to enhance the Vitamin D content thereof. By utilizing UV irradiation, the food product has a substantially increased level of Vitamin D. Preferably, the food product is irradiated with UV radiation, specifically Ultraviolet-B (UV-B), a section of the UV spectrum, with wavelengths between about 280 and 320 nm, or Ultraviolet-C (UV-C), with wavelengths between about 200 and 280 nm. In a more preferred embodiment the UV radiation is pulsed. It is believed that the additional Vitamin D is obtained through the conversion of ergosterol due to the UV irradiation. The time may be the same or increased when the irradiation occurs during the growing process, or post harvest though the UV irradiation can occur during both periods.

REFERENCES

• 1. Cannell J J, Hollis B W, Zasloff M, Heaney R P. Diagnosis and treatment of Vitamin D deficiency. Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy 9(1):107-18 (2008).
• 2. Dubost N. J., Beelman R, Peterson D, and Royse D. 2006. Identification and quantification of ergothioneine in cultivated mushrooms using liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. International Journal Medicinal Mushrooms 8(2):215-222.
• 3. Feeney, M. J., Optimizing Vitamin D₂ in mushrooms; Pilot study to expose mushrooms to ultraviolet light. Mushroom News 54(5):2-24 (2006).
• 4. Holick M F, Biancuzzo R M, Chen T C, Klein E K, Young A, Bibuld D, Reitz R, Salameh W, Ameri A, Tannenbaum A D. Vitamin D₂ is as effective as Vitamin D₃ in maintaining circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. J Clin Endocrin Metabolism 2008 (doi:10.1210/jc.2007-2308).
• 5. Matilla P H, Piironen V I, Uusi-Rauva E J, Koivistoninen P E. Vitamin D Contents in Edible Mushrooms. J. Agric. Food Chem 1994 42: 2449-2453.
• 6. LPI. (2008). “Vitamin D.” Linus Pauling Institute, 2008, from http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminD/.
• 7. NIH. (2004, 2008). “Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D.” 2007, from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp.
• 8. Werner A R, and Beelman R B. 2002. Growing high-selenium edible and medicinal button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus (J. Lge) Imbach) as ingredients for functional foods or dietary supplements. International Journal Medicinal Mushrooms 4:167-171.

EXAMPLE 1

Fresh mushrooms were obtained from Modern Mushroom Farm (Avondale, Pa.) and the Penn State MTDF. All mushrooms were protected from extraneous light exposure throughout the experiments.

A Steripulse®-XL 3000 (Xenon Corporation, Wilmington, Mass.) was used for Pulsed UV light exposure. A B-type lamp was used. The system generated 505 Joules per pulse. At 3.2 cm from the window or 9 cm from the lamp, the broadband energy was 0.873 J/cm² per pulse. The system generates 3 pulses per second. All previous experiments were conducted using a Xenon C-type lamp.

Brown and white button mushrooms were sliced to expose gill tissue. They were randomly placed in 150 g lots into polystyrene containers. Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms were divided into 150 g lots and were arranged in the system so that there was a single layer of mushrooms. All samples were placed in the Pulsed UV system at a distance of 3.2 cm from the quartz window.

Brown and white button mushrooms were exposed for 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 pulses. All treatments were repeated three times. Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms were exposed for 0, 1, 2, and 3 pulses. All treatments were repeated twice.

Mushroom powders from air-dried Agaricus bisporus with and without selenium enrichment grown at the Penn State MTDF using the methods of Werner and Beelman (2002), were treated in 5 g lots in uncovered Petri plates at a distance of 3.2 cm from the quartz window. King Oyster mushrooms (obtained from Golden Gourmet Mushrooms, San Marcos, Calif.) were air-dried and treated at the same distance. The powders were treated at 0, 4, 8, and 16 pulses.

Spent mushroom substrates (Maitake and King Oyster) obtained from Golden Gourmet Mushrooms were treated either before or after air drying. Dry samples were treated in 5 g lots and wet samples were treated in 20 g lots. The Maitake substrate was treated at 0, 4, and 8 pulses. King Oyster substrates were treated at 0, 8 and 16 pulses.

Commercially dried King Oyster mycelial biomass grown on sterile organic oats at Golden Gourmet Mushrooms (Mushroom Matrix) were treated at 0, 4, 8, and 16 pulses before and after being ground into powder form.

The King Oyster mushroom powder was also evaluated for ergothioneine content. Ergothioneine content was determined by the method of Dubost et al (2006). Ergothioneine levels are reported as mg/g dry weight.

Mushroom samples were freeze-dried directly following treatment and ground into powder. All other samples were air-dried and ground into powders. The powders were sent to Medallion Labs (Minneapolis, Minn.) for Vitamin D₂ analysis.

Vitamin D₂ values of fresh mushrooms are presented based on the % DV (Adequate Intake of 400 IU) in a serving (84 g) of fresh mushrooms. Vitamin D₂ values for powders and substrates are presented as IU/100 g dry weight.

Results and Discussion

After exposure to increasing amounts of pulsed UV light there was an increase in Vitamin D₂ content of every mushroom product tested. With each additional pulse the mushrooms were exposed to increasing amounts of irradiation and thus more energy was available for Vitamin D₂ synthesis from ergosterol.

Fresh sliced white button mushrooms showed an increase from an initial Vitamin D₂ level of 0% DV/serving to 325% DV/serving after just one pulse (FIG. 7). After 4 pulses the level of Vitamin D₂ increased to 824% DV/serving.

Fresh sliced brown button mushrooms (FIG. 8) Vitamin D₂ went from an initial level of 4% DV/serving at 0 pulses to 362% DV/serving after one pulse. The level increased to 899% DV/serving after 4 pulses.

After Pulsed UV treatment fresh Shiitake mushrooms (FIG. 9) showed an increase in Vitamin D₂ content from an initial level of 3% DV/serving at 0 pulses to 490% DV/serving after one pulse. The Vitamin D₂ content after 3 pulses was 1200% DV/serving.

Fresh Oyster mushrooms contained an initial level of Vitamin D₂ of 15% DV/serving at 0 pulses to a level of 1618% DV/serving after 3 pulses (FIG. 10).

The Oyster and Shiitake showed higher amounts of Vitamin D₂ content after Pulsed UV light exposure than the brown and white button mushrooms. This is most likely due to the thickness of the layer of mushrooms in the system. The brown and white button mushrooms were placed in polystyrene containers to simulate a package of sliced mushrooms being treated. The Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms were treated as whole mushrooms since their geometry did not permit for even distribution when packed together. The single layer of the Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms was similar to how these mushrooms would be treated if the Pulsed UV system were placed over a line where the mushrooms were being transported on a conveyor belt in a single layer. An additional study would be needed to directly compare the Vitamin D₂ content of the Agaricus mushrooms to the Oyster and Shiitake mushrooms.

This study demonstrates that after a very short exposure time of about 1 sec (system generates 3 pulses per second) the Vitamin D₂ content of these mushroom varieties can be increased from very little to upwards of 800% DV/serving. Previous studies using continuous UV light has been shown to take at least 5 minutes of exposure to obtain similar values (Feeney, 2006).

This study also showed that increasing the Vitamin D₂ contents of several mushroom products such as powders and substrates is possible. This material could be used as food ingredients or for animal feed to create value added products.

FIG. 11 shows that the Vitamin D₂ content of selenium enriched (200 ppm) and control (10 ppm) mushroom powder (Agaricus bisporus) were increased in a similar manner from around 100 IU at 0 pulses to over 100,000 IU per 100 g with a treatment of 16 pulses.

The Vitamin D₂ content of air-dried King Oyster powder was increased from 367 IU at 0 pulses to 91800 IU per 100 g after 16 pulses. The ergothioneine content of the dried products remained constant around 1.3 mg/g for all treatments (FIG. 12) indicating that pulsed UV treatment had no effect on ergothioneine levels.

Mushroom mycelial biomass grown on sterile organic oats showed similar increases in Vitamin D₂ with increasing exposure although levels were not as high as with pure fruiting body material. Vitamin D₂ dried King Oyster mycelial biomass increased significantly when ground from 0 to 7100 IU, however when exposed before grinding the level only rose to 288 IU (FIG. 13).

King Oyster spent substrates pressed of excess water and treated with pulsed UV light before and after air drying (FIG. 14) showed slightly higher Vitamin D₂ content when treated wet (9040 IU compared to 6820 IU at 16 pulses). The opposite effect was seen with Maitake spent substrate (FIG. 15). The undried substrate showed less conversion after 8 pulses (1810 IU compared to 3400 IU).

Pulsed UV technology has been shown to be a more practical method of UV irradiation of mushrooms for the mushroom industry than previous methods due to the shorter amount of time needed for exposure to achieve high amounts of Vitamin D₂. The UV-B bulb used in this study was found to be highly effective in converting ergosterol to Vitamin D₂ and would appear to more practical than UV-C bulbs for commercial use since there would be no generation of ozone that could compromise worker safety.

The ergothioneine content of mushrooms in both fresh and powder form did not appear to change much with pulsed UV treatment. These findings show that it is possible to produce mushrooms that contain high levels of selenium, Vitamin D₂ and ergothioneine.

EXAMPLE 2

An experiment was conducted to determine if pulsed UV light treatment employed to enhance the Vitamin D₂ levels could have any negative effects on other nutritionally valuable components like the unique antioxidant L-ergothioneine. Sliced white button mushrooms were exposed to 0, 20, 30, 40 and 50 seconds of pulsed UV light as described above. The results (FIG. 16) demonstrate that Vitamin D₂ levels increased significantly with increasing time of exposure but L-ergothioneine levels were relatively unchanged. These data indicate that mushrooms can be enriched with Vitamin D₂ using pulsed UV light and high ergothioneine levels are retained.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without varying from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A pulsed UV irradiated, filamentous fungi, tissue, substrate, spent substrate or component thereof, with increased levels of Vitamin D, when compared with a non-irradiated pulsed UV filamentous fungi.

2. The filamentous fungi of claim 1 wherein said Vitamin D is Vitamin D2.

3. The filamentous fungi of claim 1 wherein said filamentous fungi is a mushroom.

4. The mushroom of claim 3 wherein said mushroom is of a species selected from the group consisting of: Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes, Pleurotus ostreatus.

5. The mushroom of claim 4 wherein said mushroom is selenium enriched.

6. The mushroom of claim 4 wherein said mushroom's ergothioneine content remains unchanged after UV treatment.

7. The mushroom of claim 3 wherein said fungi is in powder form.

8. The filamentous fungi of claim 2 wherein said Vitamin D2 content is increased to about 800% of the daily recommended value of said vitamin.

9. The filamentous fungi of claim 1 wherein said filamentous fungi does not have discoloration from the UV treatment.

10. The filamentous fungi tissue of claim 1 wherein said tissue is mycelium.

11. The filamentous fungi substrate of claim 1 wherein said substrate is air dried.

12. A nutritional food product comprising a UV irradiated, filamentous fungi, tissue, substrate or component thereof with higher levels of Vitamin D than a non-irradiated product.

13. An animal feed product comprising UV irradiated mushroom substrate or spent substrate with increased levels of Vitamin D2 when compared to a non-irradiated mushroom substrate or spent substrate.

14. The animal feed product of claim 13 wherein said mushroom substrate is king oyster substrate.

15. The animal feed product of claim 13 wherein said mushroom substrate maitake substrate.

16. The animal feed product of claim 13 wherein said mushroom substrate is air dried.

17. A method of increasing the nutritional content of filamentous fungi, tissues, substrate, spent substrate or components thereof comprising: introducing to said fungi pulsed UV irradiation at a time and level sufficient to convert ergosterol to Vitamin D without deleterious effects on the appearance of the fungi.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said UV radiation is at an energy range of approximately 1-10 J/cm2 per pulse.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said UV irradiation is at an energy range of approximately 3-8 J/cm2.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said UV irradiation is at an energy range of approximately 5-6 J/cm2.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said pulses are at a range of approximately 1-50 pulses per second.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said pulses are at a range of approximately 1-30 pulses per second.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said pulses are at a range of 1-10 pulses per second.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein said treatment is for a time period of about 0.1 to about 60 seconds.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein said treat is at a distance of 3.2 cm from the window or 9 cm from the lamp.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein said mushroom is selected from the group consisting of Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein said tissue is mycelium.

28. The method of claim 17 wherein said Vitamin D enriched component is mushroom substrate.

29. A treated mushroom which has increased Vitamin D content compared to an untreated mushroom achieved by the method of claim 17.

30. The treated mushroom of claim 29 wherein said mushroom has been treated from approximately 10 to 20 seconds of pulsed UV exposure and has about 10 to about 20 times the Vitamin D level of an untreated mushroom.

31. The treated mushroom of claim 29 wherein said mushroom has approximately 490% or more of the DV/serving of Vitamin D in one serving of mushrooms.

32. The treated mushroom of claim 29 wherein said mushroom has no browning appearance from said treatment.