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NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF READY-TO-USE THERAPEUTIC FOODS PREPARED FROM INDEGENOUS INGREDIENTS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION

SANI Junaidu Muhammad, TALABI Justina Yetunde, ALEBIOSU Ibidayo, AJAYI Kayode

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Abstract

An adequate diet is essential for children's survival and well-being during their first two years of life. This study aims to formulate and assess the nutritional qualities of ready-to-use- therapeutic food made with pearl millet, Moringa oleifera seed and Bambara groundnut for management of Severe Acute Malnutrition. The food products were locally obtained and coded as follows: PMF: (100% Pearl Millet Flour); PBM1: (60% Pearl millet + 20% Bambara groundnut + 5% Moringa leave + 5% Vegetable oil + 10% Sucrose); PMB2: (50% Pearl millet + 30% Bambara groundnut + 5% Moringa leave + 5% Vegetable oil + 10% Sucrose); PMB3: (40% Pearl millet + 40% Bambara groundnut + 5% Moringa leave + 5% Vegetable oil + 10% Sucrose); CTL: Control (UNICEF product). Proximate, minerals, amino acid, free fatty acid profile of pearl millet ready-to-use- therapeutic food were determined based on standard analytical methods. The data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05. The crude protein contents of the formulated pearl millet ready-to-use-therapeutic food samples varied from 17.26 g/100 g in PBM1 – 21.51 g/100 g in PBM3. The mineral composition of pearl millet ready-to-use-therapeutic food showed that phosphorous (903.11 - 1061.33 mg/100g). The total amino acids ranged between 90.68 g/100 g in PBM1 – 98.94 g/100 g in PBM3. The proportion (%) of Total Amino Acids (TAA) to Essential Amino Acids (EAA) ranged from 58.40 – 60.52%. Prepared formulated samples may be an excellent way to manage severe acute malnutrition.

 

Keywords: Ready to use, Therapeutic foods, Severe acute malnutrition, Management