Assessing Mineral Bioavailability from Improved Luam-Nahan Flours Formulated for Preschool Children

• A.A. Daagema

  Department of Community Health, Benue State School of Health Technology Agasha, Benue State, Nigeria.

  Author

• K. Ajayi

  Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

  Author

• J.Y. Talabi

  Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

  Author

• F.E. Omotoye

  Federal Teaching Hospital Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

  Author

• C.B. Bello

  Faculty of Nursing Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

  Author

• A. Yakubu-Olukayode

  Department of Wellness and College of Health, School of Health and Social Wellbeing University of West England

  Author

• A. Farinola-Udofia

  Bioscience Center, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001, Oyo State, Nigeria

  Author

Micronutrient deficiency contributes significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. The study evaluates the mineral bioavailability of nutritionally enhanced luam-nahan porridge flours formulated for preschoolers. High-quality protein maize (QPM), provitamin-A cassava, soybean and Jatropha tanjorensis leaves were pre-treated, milling into flours and blending in the ratios of 44:44:10:2, 39:39:20:2, 34:34:30:2 and 29:29:40:2 for the enhanced flours using material balancing. White maize and cassava were processed into flour and blended at 50:50 as control. The blends were evaluated for mineral and antinutrient composition using AOAC methods. Mineral bioavailability was assessed using molar ratio formula. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and reported as means and standard deviations at (P>0.05) indicating no statistically significant difference among samples. Mineral composition revealed low iron (3.51 mg/100g) and zinc (1.06 mg/100g) content in the control while the enhanced blends showed an increase, reaching 10.53 mg/100g for iron and 10.41 mg/100g for zinc in the 29:29:40:2 blend. Oxalate (3.24 mg/100 g) and cyanide (5.46 mg/kg) levels in the control decreased to 0.90 mg/100g and 0.02 mg/kg in the 29:29:40:2 blend. All enhanced flours had higher mineral and lower antinutrient contents. Blend ratio 29:29:40:2 is most suitable for preventing and reducing micronutrient malnutrition in preschoolers.

1. A.A. Daagema, Department of Community Health, Benue State School of Health Technology Agasha, Benue State, Nigeria.

   Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

2. K. Ajayi, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

   Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

3. J.Y. Talabi, Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

   Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

4. F.E. Omotoye, Federal Teaching Hospital Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

   Federal Teaching Hospital Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

5. C.B. Bello, Faculty of Nursing Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

   Faculty of Nursing Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

6. A. Yakubu-Olukayode, Department of Wellness and College of Health, School of Health and Social Wellbeing University of West England

   Department of Wellness and College of Health, School of Health and Social Wellbeing University of West England

7. A. Farinola-Udofia, Bioscience Center, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001, Oyo State, Nigeria

   Bioscience Center, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan 200001, Oyo State, Nigeria

• PDF