Effectiveness of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in enhancing the folate content of injera made with different cereals

Fermentation can contribute to the supply of essential vitamins like folate, but studies exploring this potential are scarce. Injera is an Ethiopian fermented pancake‐like flatbread made from different cereals. The study aimed to investigate the effect of injera‐making process using different cereals (tef, sorghum, wheat, and barley) on folate content and to evaluate the effectiveness of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in enhancing folate of injera made with different cereals. Cereals were used alone or in combination (tef and sorghum (1:1), wheat and sorghum (3:1), sorghum (100%), and barley (100%)). L. plantarum previously isolated from tef dough and ersho (fermentation batch) collected from the households were used as starters. Folate content of the flour, dough, and injera was determined by microbiological assay. Contribution of consumption of injera made with different cereals to the folate requirement of children and women of reproductive age was evaluated. Among the studied cereals, the highest average folate content (49.9 μg/100 g) was observed in 100% sorghum flour and the least (32.2 μg/100 g) in 100% barley flour, on dry weight basis. After fermentation, the highest average folate content (60.1 μg/100 g) was observed in 100% sorghum dough fermented with L. plantarum. Highest average folate content (15.45 μg/100 g) per fresh weight was observed in wheat and sorghum (3:1)‐blend injera fermented with L. plantarum. Consumption of L. plantarum–fermented injera made with different cereals contributed up to 8% of the recommended folate intake of women of reproductive age.