PRODUCTION OF SELENIUM ENRICHED YEAST USING SACCHAROMYCES PASTORIANUS FOR APPLICATION IN PHARMACEUTICAL AND FUNCTIONAL FOOD PRODUCTS.

Abstract

                Selenium is one of the essential trace minerals in human nutrition. Products

enriched with organic selenium is recommended for immunostimulation,

prophylaxis and treatment of inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, prevention

of cancer, anti-aging. Selenium enriched products available in Vietnam are imported or based on imported ingredients. Several of such selenium sources are of low quality due to the high content of free and toxic inorganic selenium. Attempt of producing selenium yeast in Vietnam has been done since 1990s. In this report, based on data obtained by previous studies at laboratory scale, selenium enriched (1000 ppm) yeast production has been scaled-up and optimized using a 300 liter pilot fermentor utilizing the beer yeast strain Saccharomyces pastorianus CNTP 7192. The optimal fermentation parameters are as follows: selenium content in the fermentation medium 115 ppm, yeast inoculation rate 8%, nutrient content in the fermentation medium 13%, fermentation time 17 hours, feeding 3 times. The same production parameters could be scaled-up to the 1.500 liter model. The obtained product has met technical requirements as an ingredient for pharmaceutical and functional food production. Selenium enriched (1000 ppm) yeast manufactured by Food Industries Research Institute has been used as an ingredient for the production of drugs and functional foods by a number of pharmaceutical companies in Vietnam.