title: Sweetpotato-based complementary food would be less inhibitory on mineral absorption than a maize-based infant food assessed by compositional analysis.
abstract: The availability of micronutrients from sweetpotato-based complementary foods (CFs): oven-toasted and roller-dried ComFa, and from a maize-based infant food, enriched Weanimix, was compared using phytate/mineral molar ratios, polyphenols and β-carotene levels. The phytate/calcium, iron and zinc molar ratios of approximately 0.17, 1 and 15 predict better absorption of calcium, iron and zinc respectively. Generally, the sweetpotato-based CFs had at least half the phytate/mineral ratios of enriched Weanimix. The phytate/iron ratio in both the sweetpotato- and the maize-based CFs was greater than 1. Only the ComFa formulations had phytate/zinc ratio lower than 15. The level of polyphenol (iron inhibitor) was similar for the formulations. Only the sweetpotato-based CFs contained measurable levels of β-carotene, a possible iron enhancer. The lower phytate/mineral ratios and the β-carotene level of the sweetpotato-based CFs suggest that calcium, iron and zinc absorption could be better from them than from the maize-based infant food.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemistry, University for Development Studies, Navrongo, Ghana.
authors.forename: Francis Kweku
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Amagloh
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brough
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Anthony N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Mutukumira
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hardacre
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coad
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D005511:Food Handling; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D027723:Ipomoea batatas / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010833:Phytic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D045730:Soy Foods / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D003313:Zea mays / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002614:Chelating Agents; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D059808:Polyphenols; D019207:beta Carotene; D010833:Phytic Acid; D015032:Zinc