Nutritional Assessment of Precooked Flour Formulated From Corn (Zea Mays), Soybean (Glycine Max) and Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea) Flours Consumed In Côte D’ivoire (Published)
The purpose of this study was to enrich corn flour with soybean and peanut flour in order to formulate an enriched feed for children of weaning age. To do this, an enriched corn flour has been formulated by adding to corn flour, soybean and peanut flours. The flour thus composed was characterized physically and biochemically. Then, a growth and biometric study was conducted to evaluate the effect of enriched corn flour on young rats of Wistar strain in growing. The results of the physicochemical and biochemical study give contents in dry matter, protein, fat, ash, carbohydrate and energetic value of 89.44 ± 0.13, 17.85 ± 0.11%, 5.83 ± 1.72%, 1.85 ± 0.03 %, 62.31 ± 0.01% and 442.99 ± 0.05 Kcal / 100g respectively for enriched corn flour. The effect of compound meal on young rats gives the growth level for weight gain, feed efficiency, apparent digestibility, true digestibility, and biological value values of 2.91 ± 0.59 g / j, 0.33 ± 0.07, 86.45 ± 0.31%, 94.28 ± 0.13% 84.27 ± 0.37% respectively. At the level of the biometric study no abnormality was observed at the level of the regulating organs which are the kidneys, the liver, the heart and the spleen compared to the control diet. Nutritional assessment results showing better performance at the 5% threshold for the different nutritional parameters show that enriched corn meal could have a positive impact on children’s health and prevent the occurrence of illness such as kwashiorkor due to malnutrition. In addition, the fact that the nutritional parameters comply with the standards required shows that this food could be industrialized to facilitate its accessibility by all layers of society.
Keywords: Enriched Corn Meal, Formulation, Malnutrition, Nutritional Assessment, Peanut, soybean
Assessment and Determinants of Nutritional Status in a Sample of Under Five-Year-Old Iraqi Children (Published)
The nutritional status of under five-year-old children is an important outcome measure of children’s health. Malnutrition is one of the most important causes of children’s abnormal physical and mental development. The study aims to find the prevalence and determinants of malnutrition in terms of wasting, stunting, and underweight, in addition to obesity in a sample of under five-year-old Iraqi children. A cross sectional study was conducted in three primary health care centres in Baghdad for the period from 3rd January to 31st March 2012. A sample of 606 under 5-year-old children (2-59 months) of both genders was included in the study. Data were gathered by direct interviews with the children’s parents, and the weight, height, and BMI measurements of each child were taken. The prevalence of different undernutrition problems among under five-year-old children were: 5.28% for wasting, 16.17% for stunting, and 7.43% for underweight. The highest prevalence was that of being being obese; 17.5% by weight to height and 15.35% by BMI to age. Malnutrition levels were higher in rural than in urban areas. A significant association was estimated between; the age of a child and being underweight, lower levels of parental education and stunting, and between extended families and stunting. The rates of being being obese were higher than that of those of undernutrition. The factors associated with undernutrition in under five-year-old children are especially related to lower socioeconomic status such as rural residence, lower levels of maternal education, unemployed mothers, and extended larger families.
Keywords: Malnutrition, Nutritional Status, Under 5 Children
Knowledge Of Infant Nutritional Needs Among Residents Of Nsukka Cultural Zone Of Enugu State, Nigeria (Review Completed - Accepted)
Most children in Nigeria fall sick as a result of eating inappropriate food for a long period of time. Studies have shown that poor nutrition prevents children and communities from participating fully in social and economic life. In view of the above, the study examined the knowledge of infant nutritional needs among residents of Nsukka cultural zone in Enugu State, Nigeria.. Ten focus group discussions (FGDS) were held with 6 groups of mothers and 4 groups of fathers comprising young and old groups. The data were processed and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (Spss). The study found that many families are not aware that they can mash carrot, potato and cucumber and mix with meat broth and spoon feed their children. The findings highlighted the need to employ education to correct many of these cultural practices in infant feeding practices mostly found in rural Nigeria.
Keywords: Child health, Education, Knowledge, Malnutrition, Nutritional needs, The Nigeria, infant mortality
Evaluation of Pumpkin Varieties Grown In the Lake Victoria Basin and Determination of Micronutrients in Their Leaves (Review Completed - Accepted)
Malnutrition continues to be a challenge to the already food insecure populations in developing countries. Utilization of indigenous crops or vegetables is one of the solutions. They are not only available and acceptable but are also rich nutritionally. This study focused on one such ignored crop within the Lake Victoria basin, the pumpkin. The study was to establish the pumpkin species, varieties and evaluate levels of micronutrients in their leaves. Three species of pumpkins C. maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo and a gourd Lageneria siceraria in ten different varieties are grown within the region. HPLC and AAS analysis of the leaves for micronutrients showed that the levels of B- complex, vitamin C and iron differed significantly (p<0.05). The banana variety leaves were superior as compared to others in most of the micronutrients analyzed.
Keywords: Indigenous, Lake Victoria Basin, Malnutrition, Pumpkin, Variety And Micronutrients
