46F-1
Growth/rehabilitation potential of cereal-bean-sardine composite food products for improving growth and survival of vulnerable populations
T. C. E. MOSHA, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 106 G.M. Trout Building, East Lansing, MI 48824-1224 and M. R. Bennink.
Protein and energy undernutrition is a major public health problem in Tanzania, particularly among preschool children. It is hypothesized that, development of nutritious, affordable and convenient supplementary foods prepared from local foods will improve growth and survival of vulnerable populations in Tanzania.
This study was conducted to evaluate protein quality and growth/rehabilitation potential of supplementary foods based on locally produced food materials.
Seven diets namely rice-meal (RM), bean-meal (BM), soybean-meal (SOY), rice-bean composite meal (RBM), rice-bean-sardine composite meal (RBSM), corn-bean-sardine composite meal (CBSM) and corn-bean meal (CBM) were formulated to give amino acid score pattern similar to that recommended by FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) for preschool children. Biological qualities of the diets including true protein digestibility, protein utilization, food efficiency ratio, protein digestibility corrected amino acid scores (PDCAAS%) and rehabilitation potential were evaluated using growing Sprague Dawley rats.
Our results showed that, protein utilization of the diets were control (0.90a), RBSM (0.88a), SOY (0.85a), CBSM (0.81a), RM (0.58b), RBM (0.39c), CBM (0.24dc), and BM (0.06d). Protein absorption ratios per gram of protein consumed were 0.93a Control), 0.92a (RBSM), 0.88a (SOY), 0.86ab (CBSM), 0.66b (RM), 0.44c (RBM), 0.28d (CBM) and 0.12e (BM). The protein digestibility corrected amino acid scores (PDCAAS%) were 100% (Control), 62% (CBSM), 70% (RBSM), 57% (RM), 78% (RBM), 72% (CBM), 70% (BM) and 69% (SOY). CBSM and RBSM showed great ability to support growth, much the same as the control (casein) diet, while CBM, RBM and BM did not display acceptable growth. CBSM and RBSM also showed great potential to support compensatory growth during rehabilitation, whereby growth velocity increased 6, 7 and 5 times when fed CBSM, RBSM and control diet, respectively.
These results suggest that, diets developed from locally produced materials in Tanzania were of high quality and displayed great potential to support optimal growth and rehabilitation of undernourished pre-school children.
Session 46F, Nutrition
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 2002-06-17