title: Instrumental neutron activation analysis of different products from the sugarcane industry in Pakistan--part 1: essential elements for nutritional adequacy.
abstract: Jaggery, brown sugar, white sugar, and molasses collected from the local sugarcane industry of Pakistan have been analyzed for essential elements in order to estimate their nutritional adequacy. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to determine Ca, CI, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn through sequential, short, medium, and long irradiation times. Maximum concentrations for most of these elements were determined in molasses, with lower concentrations determined in jaggery and brown sugar; white sugar contained trace amounts of all essential elements. Contributions to the weekly Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values for the elements were estimated only for jaggery, brown sugar, and white sugar because molasses in Pakistan is not consumed as a dietary item. Jaggery contributes the highest percentages of Cr, Mg, Mn, and Zn, whereas the highest percentages of Cl, Fe, K, and Na can be acquired from brown sugar. The contribution of white sugar to the weekly RDAs for these elements is negligible, indicating that white sugar is a poor source of the essential elements. However, the introduction of molasses to the diet can contribute to an adequate intake of these elements.
authors.affiliation: Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Directorate of Science, Chemistry Division, PO Nilore, Islamabad, 45650 Pakistan. swaheed161@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shahida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Waheed
authors.forename: Shujaat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002713:Chlorine / Q000032:analysis; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis; D003035:Cobalt / Q000032:analysis; D007221:Industry; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis; D009501:Neutron Activation Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D031786:Saccharum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D008345:Manganese; D002713:Chlorine; D012964:Sodium; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium