Comparison of the protein nutritional value of food blends based on sorghum, bambara groundnut and sweet potatoes

Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2001 Jan;52(1):25-9. doi: 10.1080/09637480020027246.

Abstract

The protein quality of four blends based on sprouted sorghum, bambara groundnuts and fermented sweet potatoes had been evaluated by rat feeding experiments; casein served as a reference protein. The test proteins were incorporated to make up 1.6% total nitrogen. There was an inverse relationship between % nitrogen disgestibility and the proportion of sorghum protein in the blend; being highest (89.7%) in the diets based on sorghum:bambara groundnut:sweet potatoes with protein ratios of 52:46:2. This blend proved to be optimum when the biological value (93.6%) and the net protein utilization (84%) were used as protein indices. The findings imply that foods with good protein quality could be formulated from a blend of sorghum-bambara groundnut and sweet potatoes, provided appropriate processing and blending are taken into consideration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Edible Grain / chemistry*
  • Fabaceae / chemistry*
  • Food, Formulated
  • Male
  • Nutritive Value
  • Plant Proteins / analysis*
  • Plant Proteins, Dietary / analysis
  • Plants, Medicinal*
  • Rats
  • Solanaceae / chemistry*

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Plant Proteins, Dietary