Nutritional quality of local low-cost food supplemented for infant feeding

ABSTRACT

3 new protein-rich food mixtures from plant protein sources were used for infant feeding. The nutritive value was evaluated by means of chemical and biological assay. The protein content ranged from 19.65 to 23%], calories from 348 to 366, 9.1 - 16.2 mg% iron and 368 - 470 mg% phosphorus, which fulfill his physiological requirement. The essential amino acids are presented in increasing amounts when compared with that of FAO provisional pattern. Available lysine showed that processing had an effect on the availability of lysine. The PER values varied between 1.98 and 2.37, while that of casein was 2.5. Serum proteins and serum albumin levels of rats fed on mixture I was the highest followed by mixtures II and III. Free fatty acid content remained unchanged when the mixtures stored at 4C except mixture III showed negligible increasing values after 2 months of storage. The peroxide value of the stored samples remained unchanged during the whole period of storage [3 months], indicating that no further oxidation of rancidity has been occurred