title: Proximate, mineral, and antinutrient compositions of indigenous Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) pod accessions: implications for mineral bioavailability.
abstract: The promotion and consumption of indigenous vegetables could help to mitigate food insecurity and alleviate malnutrition in developing countries. Nutrient and antinutrient compositions of eight accessions of Okra Pods were investigated. Molar ratios and mineral bioavailability of Okra pod accessions were also calculated and compared to the critical values to predict the implications for mineral bioavailability. Proximate and mineral composition of Okra pod accessions were determined using standard methods of Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The result of the study revealed that the proximate composition (g/100 g) in dry weight basis was significantly (P < 0.05) varied and ranged: moisture/dry matter 9.69-13.33, crude protein 10.25-26.16, crude fat 0.56-2.49, crude fiber 11.97-29.93, crude ash 5.37-11.30, utilizable carbohydrate 36.66-50.97, and gross energy 197.26-245.55 kcal/100 g. The mineral concentrations (mg/100 g) were also significantly (P < 0.05) varied and ranged: calcium (111.11-311.95), Iron (18.30-36.68), potassium (122.59-318.20), zinc (3.83-6.31), phosphorus (25.62-59.72), and sodium (3.33-8.31) on dry weight bases. The Okra Pods of "OPA#6" accession contained significantly higher amounts of crude protein, total ash, crude fat, calcium, iron, and zinc than all other accessions evaluated in this study. The results of antinutrients analysis showed that, except phytate, tannin, and oxalate contents of all the accessions were significantly (P < 0.05) varied. The range of phytate, tannin, and oxalate contents (mg/100 g) for Okra pod accessions studied were as follows: 0.83-0.87, 4.93-9.90, and 0.04-0.53, respectively. The calculated molar ratios of phytate: calcium, phytate: iron, phytate: zinc, oxalate: calcium and [Phytate][Calcium]/[Zinc] were below the critical value and this indicate that the bioavailability of calcium, iron, and zinc in these accessions could be high. The results of the study revealed that Okra pod contain appreciable amount of vital nutrients like protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and zinc and low in antinutrient contents with high mineral bioavailability. Therefore, increase in the production and consumption of these nutrient-rich indigenous Okra pods will help to supplement/formulate the diets and alleviate the problems associated with malnutrition in the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Technology and Process Engineering Wollega University P.O. Box 395 Nekemte Ethiopia; Center for Food Science and Nutrition Program Addis Ababa University P.O. Box 1176 Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Habtamu Fekadu
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Gemede
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology Botswana Collage of Agriculture Botswana University Gaborone Botswana.
authors.forename: Gulelat Desse
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Haki
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Technology and Process Engineering Wollega University P.O. Box 395 Nekemte Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Fekadu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Beyene
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Science and Nutrition Program Addis Ababa University P.O. Box 1176 Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ashagrie Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Woldegiorgis
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) Lakehead University Thunder Bay ON Canada P7B 5E1.
authors.forename: Sudip Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rakshit
keywords: Accession; Okra; antinutrient; bioavailability; mineral; pod; proximate