Evaluation of the nutritional characteristics of a finger millet based complementary food.
Finger millet (Eleusine coracana), kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), peanuts (Arachis hypogoea), and mango (Mangifera indica) were processed separately and then combined, on the basis of their amino acid scores and energy content, into a complementary food for children of weaning age. The finger millet and kidney beans were processed by germination, autoclaving, and lactic acid fermentation. A mixture containing, on a dry matter basis, 65.2, 19.1, 8.0, and 7.7% of the processed finger millet, kidney beans, peanuts, and mango, respectively, gave a composite protein with an in vitro protein digestibility of 90.2% and an amino acid chemical score of 0.84. This mixture had an energy density of 16.3 kJ.g(-1) of dry matter and a decreased antinutrient content and showed a measurable improvement in the in vitro extractability for calcium, iron, and zinc. A 33% (w/v) pap made from a mix of the processed ingredients had an energy density of 5.4 kJ.g(-1) of pap, which is sufficient to meet the energy requirements of well-nourished children of 6-24 months of age at three servings a day and at the FAO average breast-feeding frequency.
Mbithi-Mwikya
Stephen
S
Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and Applied Biological Sciences, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. stephen_mwikya@yahoo.com
Van Camp
John
J
Mamiro
Peter R S
PR
Ooghe
Wilfried
W
Kolsteren
Patrick
P
Huyghebaert
Andre
A
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D027926:Anacardiaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D009753:Nutritive Value; D008897:Panicum / Q000737:chemistry; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000737:chemistry; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis; D014886:Weaning; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D000596:Amino Acids; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium