ABSTRACT
This study aims to improve the nutritional quality of traditional porridge intended for young children with moderate malnutrition. The biochemical and nutritional characteristics of three supplement porridges enriched with dried leaves Corchorus olitorius and Anacardium occidental were determined according to standard methods. The results revealed that enrichment with these two ingredients significantly improved the proportion of dry matter of porridges enriched with high contents in those containing only Western Anacardium BC2 (17.33 ± 0.83%) and that enriched with both Corchorus olitorius and Anacardium occidental BC4 (18.0 ± 0.5%) compared to the traditional non-enriched porridge BC1 (13.23 ± 0.41%) and that enriched with Corchorus olitorius only BC3 (14.63±0.56%). With regard to fat, the three enriched porridges showed significantly high levels: 16.00±0.00% (BC2); 13.75±0.25% (BC3); 19.25±0.35% (BC4) compared to porridge BC1 (12.75±0.25%). As for carbohydrates, enrichment did not lead to a significant increase in levels. On the other hand, the levels of proteins experienced a significant increase between 2.66 ± 0.08% (BC3) and 3.08 ± 0.05% (BC4). All the porridges showed high energy densities with values ranging between 463.43±1 Kcal/100 g (BC1) and 488.21±1 Kcal/100 g (BC4). Regarding micronutrients, the results indicated a significant increase in trace elements with higher mineral values in the porridge BC4 (Zinc: 05.05±0.06) and BC3 (Calcium: 60.91±0.07 mg /100 g; Iron: 21.80±0.20 mg/100 g; Copper: 01.57±0.04 mg/100 g; Phosphorus: 280.41±0.48 mg/100 g). The contents of fat-soluble vitamins, in particular vitamin A (BC2: 25.10±0.14 µg/100 g; BC3: 41.00±0.45 µg/100 g; BC4: 33.59± 0.12 µg/100 g) and water-soluble vitamins B2 (BC2: 12.39±0.01 mg/ 100g; BC3: 10.81±0.01 mg/100 g; BC4: 15.01±0.01 mg/100 g) and B9 (BC2: 23.05±0.25 mg/100 g; BC3: 27.13±0.29 mg/100 g; BC4: 35.16±0.36 mg/100 g) experienced a significant increase in the enriched porridge compared to the control. There is also a significantly high content of essential amino acid (leucine) with values between (37.78±0.05 and 78.31±0.9 g/100 g) in the enriched porridge compared to the control (18.51±0. 05 g/100 g). All the porridges are very rich in essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (Ω6) with contents between 19.73±0.01 and 22.59±0.01 g/100 g and linolenic acid (Ω3) with contents between 01.20±0.00 and 07.95±0.00 g/100 g, and this in accordance with the recommended values for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). This nutritional supplementation also significantly improved their antioxidant properties with DPPH values varying between 47.52±3 and 56.91±1.55% compared to the control (41.58±4.34%). Enriching these porridges with Corchorus olitorius and Anacardium occidental improved their nutritional quality in accordance with the recommended dietary intakes for my moderately malnourished for most essential nutrients. These enriched porridges could then be recommended not only for the nutritional rehabilitation of MAMs and also to prevent certain chronic diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular diseases.