Desert locusts are good for the heart
In Summary
- A recent study discovered that locusts are rich in compounds known as sterols, which have cholesterol-lowering properties.
In Africa, the desert locust is considered a destructive
pest, but it could just be what inhabitants need to keep heart disease
at bay.
A recent study discovered that locusts are rich in compounds known as sterols, which have cholesterol-lowering properties.
Cholesterol is the most familiar type of animal sterol, but when consumed in large amounts over a long period of time, it can interfere with blood flow, putting an individual at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
According to Prof Baldwyn Torto, a scientist at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), who participated in the study, though plants are the richest source of phytosterols (a type of sterol), animals also have the potential to produce it.
“Phytosterols have been shown to have a competitive advantage, as they can block the absorption of cholesterol,” said Prof Torto.
“We found that as is the case in other insects, cholesterol is the major tissue sterol in desert locusts. However, we observed that after the desert locust has fed on a vegetative diet, most of the common phytosterols are amplified and new ones are also produced in its tissues. In turn, this leads to a high phytosterol content, which suggests that eating desert locusts could reduce cholesterol levels,” said Prof Torto.
Food Security
The study was conducted jointly by Icipe, whose headquarters are in Nairobi, the Kenya-based Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and the United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service.
The researchers noted that Africa can benefit from eating more desert locusts not only because of their nutritious qualities but also to boost the continent’s weakening food security.
Locusts are considered a threat to food security mainly in the Sahel region, where they destroy swathes of cropland, leaving many in hunger and poverty.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation [FAO] has been pushing for increased consumption of edible insects, warning that the world faces a major challenge of producing enough food for the growing global population.
“Land is scarce and expanding the area devoted to farming is rarely a viable or sustainable option. Oceans are overfished and climate change and related water shortages could have profound implications on food production,” warned FAO.
A recent study discovered that locusts are rich in compounds known as sterols, which have cholesterol-lowering properties.
Cholesterol is the most familiar type of animal sterol, but when consumed in large amounts over a long period of time, it can interfere with blood flow, putting an individual at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
According to Prof Baldwyn Torto, a scientist at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe), who participated in the study, though plants are the richest source of phytosterols (a type of sterol), animals also have the potential to produce it.
“Phytosterols have been shown to have a competitive advantage, as they can block the absorption of cholesterol,” said Prof Torto.
“We found that as is the case in other insects, cholesterol is the major tissue sterol in desert locusts. However, we observed that after the desert locust has fed on a vegetative diet, most of the common phytosterols are amplified and new ones are also produced in its tissues. In turn, this leads to a high phytosterol content, which suggests that eating desert locusts could reduce cholesterol levels,” said Prof Torto.
Food Security
The study was conducted jointly by Icipe, whose headquarters are in Nairobi, the Kenya-based Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and the United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service.
The researchers noted that Africa can benefit from eating more desert locusts not only because of their nutritious qualities but also to boost the continent’s weakening food security.
Locusts are considered a threat to food security mainly in the Sahel region, where they destroy swathes of cropland, leaving many in hunger and poverty.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation [FAO] has been pushing for increased consumption of edible insects, warning that the world faces a major challenge of producing enough food for the growing global population.
“Land is scarce and expanding the area devoted to farming is rarely a viable or sustainable option. Oceans are overfished and climate change and related water shortages could have profound implications on food production,” warned FAO.
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