Diabetes mellitus affects different age groups, and it is popularly managed using synthetic drugs; however, recent research efforts focus on dietary intervention especially the use of fiber rich crops to circumvent the effects of drugs. Developed shallot-enriched amaranth-based extruded snacks, namely: GCB, Amaranth: shallot: soy cake (55:25:20) %; TYD, Amaranth: shallot: soy cake (75:14.81:10.19)%; DZU, Amaranth: shallot: soy cake (60.43:25:14.57)%; and JKL, Amaranth: shallot: soy cake (70:25:5)%, were evaluated for proximate composition, total phenol and flavonoid contents. Snacks ability to modulate carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats were also investigated. AMT (100% amaranth grain extrudate) and CCS (commercial shallot-enriched snack) served as control. Protein contents of snacks provided up to 25% of daily protein requirements for adult. Snacks exhibited high total phenol and flavonoid contents. Animals fed with snacks showed ameliorative effects on hematological parameters, attenuates elevation of enzyme activities in kidney and liver homogenates, and displayed decreased α-glucosidase/α-amylase activities. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Dietary intervention is capable of circumventing the adverse effects of synthetic drugs in the management of diabetes mellitus. The study established that developed shallot-enriched amaranth-based extruded snacks possess significant ability to hamper the activities of key carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats, hence, has potential as a functional nutritious snack to curtail hyperglycemia and prevent diabetic complications.
Keywords: Amaranth grains; carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes; extruded snacks; shallots.
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